Somali referee denied entry to U.S. ahead of World Cup

Brian Broadus102

"The reason for his denial was not made immediately clear." I can look at the photograph and make a sound guess as to why the Stephen Miller Administration banned this professional. Referees licensed at this level are products of years of experience and of incredibly thorough academic study.

Scott Smith55

It really is a disgrace. I wish they had chosen somewhere else to go

concerned2.bsky.social43

BOYCOTT world cup in USA

Can I just say29

The referees should all refuse to officiate any match in the USA unless he is recalled with a public apology from Trump

P.E. Griffiths🍁25

Outright racism, loud and proud and totally predictable. Only idiots and fools couldn’t foresee what is happening.

Parksy196423

Fifa have been a laughing stock for decades, now they show their true corrupt side. Only in it for the money rather than the true intention of the World Cup to raise awareness of the game worldwide and to come together as one united fan base

NancyNY 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇩🇰21

And this is why no one and I mean NO ONE should come here.

Eric Richards18

This country is a shithole.

Terry13

Yet another reason, if any were needed, to indicate that FIFA should move all matches outside of the USA!

democracy4u.bsky.social13

MOST AMERICANS ARE ASHAMED of the RANCID PEOPLE IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW

Friskiedgrrl 🏳️‍🌈 💙🍁 🌊🇨🇦 🇺🇦12

He should be assigned to the games in Canada. Our border guards are not as stupid as the Excited States of Hysteria.

Scott Equaliholic12

What an Ugly, Ugly despicable country the US has become.

normanh1.bsky.social11

We've already decided to only watch/ record games in Mexico and Canada. Canada and Mexico would let him in, if we're not too subservient to the Orange One yet.

Robin 🇨🇦11

FIFA pandered to Trump with a made up Peace Prize so I don’t feel sorry for them . It’s unfortunate this man will be deprived of participating and I feel sorry for him but to say this is surprising , not really .

BillyDee 🇨🇦 (CA)10

Do not watch any games in the US. What a shithole thing to do.

Irritable Yet Soporific9

At least they didn't put him in some rathole like Delaney Hell. Also, boycott the US.

Paislie Giraffe Arts9

I don't understand how this regime thinks it's possible to hold international events within our borders without allowing anyone from other countries access.

barbadine.bsky.social9

This man worked hard to referee at the highest level of the game, and I am sure he had setbacks then only to have these prejudice, discriminatory, shallow ppl do this to him is unjust and reprehensible.

AnMaKo 🏳️‍🌈📯🇪🇺 🇩🇪 🇺🇦 🇬🇱9

Welcome to 💩f*cking 🟠🤡fascism 2.0 ... @ #Trumperica #Boycott this soccer world cup ... @ world

Jeaperz Cripes8

Take note, FIFA. Are these the headlines you were hoping for? It will not be the last of this type.

dr34dfully.bsky.social6

Boycott these games! Make FIFA regret their decision to host any game in the USA! My country is turning into a shithole because a bunch of uneducated morons voted for an orange cocksplat who won't tell the truth if there's a lie available.

YouDon'tWantToKnow6

This whole World Cup thing is turning into an even bigger shit show than I had ever imagined. I'm pleasantly surprised.

Dr Eric Farmer5

This is going to be quite a shitshow. There's no-one in Trump's government with an ounce of common sense or common decency. The racism is relentless.

Pesky PB5

Racists - if FIFA had a backbone they sanction America and ban their team from competing, but they are as complicit as the US government. Boycott the World Cup- don’t go, don’t watch, boycott the sponsors.

Laura Frost5

What a disgrace this administration is.

💧Sandy5

What else can you expect from a country where the only requirement for ICE employment is that you be a racist sycophant?

Gayle Bellomy5

As if we were not despised enough before….

saskatquach.bsky.social5

FIFA knew. they are part of this. They knew what would happen

Thede5

No one should be going to the USA. It’s a shit hole country now.

John Martin🇪🇺🔶 #FBPPR 👩‍❤️‍👨+👫🐶 Rtd🚒 #GetPRDone5

Why would anyone go to America now? The wealthiest Americans are building rocket ships to get away from the place.

MartWest4

This calls for a boycott, by Fifa or else any participating country.

ChristineAa4

He's the wrong color. "Mission South Africa," was launched by the Trump administration to grant refugee status to WHITE South Africans, primarily Afrikaners.

Cynthia Lou4

We knew Trump would fuck with it! They should’ve moved it.

We can't keep accepting referees into this country! Wait what do you mean referees are different than refugees, you mean to tell me these are two different things?

Cotardis.bsky.social4

FIFA should’ve listened to the Americans telling them to pull the World Cup from us.

Gypsy Woman4

Why are countries participating? Just pull the plug.

Maryland Blue Girl 💙 I have words and know how to use them4

Fascist, racist USA in action. God damn them.

H R Pickens4

Gonna be a long summer of this shit. And it must be frustrating for FIFA. They're greedy and deeply corrupt, so they'll recognize DT as their kind of people. They might expect to get on like a house on fire, but he's going to embarrass them at every opportunity.

Cardinal4

I profoundly hope the stadiums will be empty.

🦋DonnaNextDoor💙💛❤️‍🩹4

Shame on the people who still support it being played here, shame on those sending players here, and shame on anyone going to watch it.

SusanC4

Just one more reason to boycott the fuck out of any World Cup event held on US soil.

buddhaofnazareth.bsky.social4

The MAGA regime has made a shit-hole country out of the USA

Hank4

Under Piggy Trump we have a racist, bigoted government.

@debbie1564

I told them not to come here

Grumpy Grandpa3

Excuse me….He’s not SOUTH African

@nwsoftwareguy.bsky.social3

I cannot wait to see how Senegal and Ghana are treated. They will have to have signs: "We are professional athletes to compete in the World Cup" on them at all times.

Laura3

Historic embarrassment. Shameful. I’m outraged.

ghostlyshaman.bsky.social3

why would anyone want to come here...

bodacious953

And many more will be banned and or arrested once they enter the states.. Don't you know this is a white rich man's party only!! Oh, when that goes for the next game also, believe it or not, that's why both teams should refuse to play while he is there!!! Postpone the m*********** for another week

greg603

F&ck The World Games ‼️‼️‼️‼️💯. It Shouldn’t Have Been Held Here, ANYWAY ‼️‼️‼️. It’s against the rules for “host “ countries to bar participants !!! 🤬🤬🤬

Pat Blair3

Where is Fifa in all of this? Nowhere to be seen or heard. And all that sycophancy in giving Trump a worthless "Fifa peace prize".

Fred 🇦🇺3

What a shithole country the USA has become.

Dawn3

I TOLD you to boycott! You didn’t listen.

Wayne3

Why would anyone watch. Or play. Boycott this shithole country until the disease is gone.

Rohit Sharma3

The world Cup should never be in America. America doesn't believe in freedoms and rights that they always preach about.

Liv Bliss3

Nothing to do with him being Somalian, right? After all, "they're all crooks" and "low IQ" (something of a contradiction in terms right there) from "a disgusting country" as the Dear Leader opined not so long ago.

Forfactsakes3

This won't be the last story like this connected to the World Cup. We will soon find out which teams had personnel turned back or detained and innocent fans will be scooped up by over eager I.C.E. goons. Wave goodbye to the rest of your tourist business.

Martin Castellan FRGS3

I look forward to matches being transferred to Canada or Mexico

Vote For Women3

Find a private plane. Go get him and land where he needs to be. Fuck Trump!

Just another night3

Move the games out of America

🦋Fiona McGee🦋🚫👑3

Yep Land of the Free

🌊3

They should have moved it to another country, after Trump was elected. Maybe the Summer Olympics, too, if he's still in office by then.

mwplunkett.bsky.social3

The World Cup ain’t ever coming back to the land of the idiots

mafkr.bsky.social3

Gasp! Never saw that happening! Said no one

Lawyerlen3

I’m totally turned off by this years event.

Ka Luahine3

This could also be used to rig games. Donʻt allow top players from certain teams to come. Then the polymarkets get involved. It all sounds suspicious.

Jeri Westerson3

#BoycottTheWorldCup If you don't, you're an idiot.

tink51.bsky.social3

And this surprises no one.

1000 Volts of Holte3

We didn't have any of this nonsense when it was held in the freedom loving states of Qatar and Russia...

whynothugsanddrugs.bsky.social3

@mayor.nyc.gov @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social We know you’re a huge supporter of this World Cup and your city, but really, what about this BS!?

Vanessa3

This is outrageous! Shame on us!

Kathryn Edwards2

I am so beyond fed up with this admin. If trump was in front if me right now i believe i would be able to strangle him with my bare hands.

TingerMaster2

World Cup should boycott USA

Patina2

When did these fascist traitors say it was illegal to allow people in to visit the US? JFC they've let putin, Orban + nyet-n-yahoo in and the evil monstrous tate brothers, for starters. Treasolini actually brought people from Africa here to "live"

Tony D2

Every single person connected to this event should go home and boycott the BS

alwayswailing.bsky.social2

jellyfish regime are idiots. U may have stopped one person of color, but did u stop to think of how many races play in the WORLD CUP? U can't ban them all!

Graeme2

How many times do we say it? America in now the clown show that world citizens routinely laugh at. This is a travesty for the balanced and fair minded people of the USA. Those who are not Trump fascists. However, only the good people of the USA can change it 🤷‍♂️

Bigtone2

Why are they coming? Don't they watch the fucking news? Jesus fucking christ.

this is Al2

I know I won't be watching any of the cup.

john5789.bsky.social2

The World Cup needs to be moved to another Country! Due to Trump.

Linda UWSⓥ2

This entire event is disgrace after disgrace. No one should come to the US. It’s just not safe.

Rod2

Part of the tragedy is that anyone with a functioning brain should have seen this kind of crap coming. And it only gets worse from here. Great job, DHS!

Barbara Mack2

Trumps administration is full of petty bitch racist.

thurgoodslegacy.bsky.social2

I am endlessly embarrassed by this country’s racist regime.

Sebastian Black2

Maybe they will give the job to a genocidal maniac from Israel with a live ICC arrest warrant for war crimes. He seems to get thorough border control ok

catlady49ers.bsky.social2

Trump is out of his F’ing mind.

John in Alpena2

And, FIFA’s response is to immediately drop him. Sad but expected.

Just Army (Fuck ICE) Rob2

I’m hoping teams just starting quitting the tournament due to USA ignorance.

Princess Poker2

Unless you've been living under a rock, is this another "I'm the exception to tRump's diabolic, ignorant rath"?

sue19721954.bsky.social2

Sociopaths Nazi terrorists America is lost

pennadem.bsky.social2

Every soccer player should stay home. The Felon-in-Chief has shamed it

Andreas Keller2

If the FIFA were a decent organization, they would cancel the World Cup.

Don't panic Jonesey2

Ray Charles saw that coming.

Bill Mauldin2

If he were a white South African they would’ve rolled out the red carpet…

running4321.bsky.social2

Why is FIFA allowing this BS? Oh! Most corrupt organization in history

margeebonaccorso.bsky.social2

Too bad he isn't a white South African. He would have been welcomed with open arms.

Best Friends2

I’m so sorry to hear this.

Wisechick 🇨🇦2

The Unsafe States of America is also the Unwelcoming States of America.....so fucking racist.

gtebvl.bsky.social2

Now finally time to boycot the nazi olympic..sorry wait..maga worldcup

K.D. Keenan2

The United States of Bigotry.

ukbibi.bsky.social2

FIFA should have anticipated this and implemented necessary changes. Alternatively, they could have cut their losses and boycotted the event.

Auður2

We are now a world disgrace.

Martin Mees2

This is what US is nowadays. Shame on Trump.

Nualaatpeace2

No one associated with football or anything else should set foot in America 🛑

lucivf.bsky.social2

The world cup is going to be a shit show thanks to Trump.

PackerPat2

I am so sick of these assholes. Hegseth, Vance, Rubio, Kushner, Patel, Kennedy, Alito et al, CBS, FOX…you get the picture.

pattie1958.bsky.social2

this country is a joke

isonope.bsky.social2

It’s good he went home

ArthriticHipster (Lesbian Auntie Army)2

Every team should have boycotted this World Cup.

Mark Zohar147

The United States under the Trump administration is a global embarrassment. Boycott these racists.

uosdwis r dewoh128

I really want to know if FIFA is going to stand up for the sport. This should not be hard for FIFA to push for something like this and for someone like Infantino to intervene. Either the “say no to racism” means something or it doesn’t (answer: sadly, it probably doesn’t)

Darwin Woodka56

Good luck holding a World Cup in a country that hates the World.

Billy Juggernaut Antifa54

If only we could have seen this coming.

Jake41

And FIFA, what the fuck you got to say?

Fiona Phelan32

FIFA should select him as the referee for the final and tell Trump that the final will be moved to Mexico or Canada if he isn't allowed entry to the US.

sorysbobczak.bsky.social31

Qatar and russia WC were disgraces, but this is another level.

The Dictator Has No Clothes22

God we suck as a country. So embarrassing. 😒

Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪20

This is so racist! It's the FIFA World KKKup 😡

So'Westerner gone AWOL17

Mr Artan, I'm so sorry! One selfish tyrant shouldn't block you from refereeing the World Cup. You were hired to do it,, because you're the best! More than half of America hates to see this.

Chris Gallon16

The USA signed up to host the world cup. It has no right to deny entry to officials or players. FIFA should not stand for this.

Bloke In Belfast15

Ahh the racist Trump administration having it's fun.

DBerl090913

Somalia is one of tRump’s “shithole” countries so… no entry. Also Iraq national football team's star striker Aymen Hussein was detained & questioned for 7 hours by U.S. immigration authorities at O'Hare.

Macduff312

Why is it here?! The footballing world should be ashamed of its embrace of authoritarianism and its support of fascist sportwashing.

Sharon11

US citizens have been warning you guys don't come here at this time for your own good

Walter Muller10

Why host a World Cup when no one can come? what an embarrassment

Andy Flan10

Every competing country should be refusing to play until he’s allowed in. And probably not even then.

Cocothecat10

You can thank Trump's and Stephen Miller's racism for this.

Lost Sierra Jim9

This country has become a pathetic shithole

FreeSpirit 📢 (DMs aka Block)🚫9

Sports is a language with no borders nor barriers. A language everyone understands. A sound everyone embraces. It just became political and the US hostility is unprecedented. They need to cancel this and bar the US from hosting anything for the next 10 years. 👿💩🤬🙄

Mike Prince8

All teams should refuse to play until he is admitted. It's simple really.

Custardsteeth7

This is the world's game. The US is just a host. Who the fuck do they think they are? Ruining the biggest sporting spectacle there is. Ridiculous pricing, banning fans, refusing entry to referee's, not allowing a team to stay in the country!! Where the fuck are FIFA.

Eileen7

Olympic committee needs to pull the Olympics from the US.

K Jumbe6

FIFA should have moved the games to Canada and Mexico when it had the chance. Is this really worth it?

Dave6

What did the US think he would do, what is the threat vector? That he would somehow not return home and build an underground dungeon of weapons and take over the country? Fucking idiots.

Holli Winters6

The Trump administration has made the World Cup a fucking disaster and embarrassment for the USA. 🤬

mijn-handle.bsky.social6

FIFA peace prize - reality check: 0-1

San Francisco Lover5

Get set to see a lot of this bulls$it all through FEMA to add to USA shame...😢

James Meguerian5

Such an embarrassing country at the moment

Ralf W5

Why are any national teams coming to this sh*tshow? I know soccer is hugely important to fans (and business). All the more reason to stand for something, not falling for Trump's bullcrap.

Undinium ​​👽​🛸🖖🇬🇱🇺🇦4

Yeah, fuck you FIFA! 🖕

spotted-coach7.bsky.social4

Here we go. Trump ruins the World Cup

Lewis Edwards4

I hope this dumpster fire of a World Cup takes down FIFA with it.

ri-ndex.bsky.social4

Call it off. The US government is too racist to host an international event.

Jim Marciniak4

USA citizen here: man, do we suck. The stench of this time in this country will never wash off.

Sir Richie of the bunnies3

Is there a reason? I mean apart from racism. Have they tried to pretend theres something genuine?

Phasmatic3

if you were an immigration officer you could throw matches so easily and clean up on the betting sites.

mrbluesky583

I am so embarrassed and horrified.

Stef The Grim (not angry enough yet3

It's a racist regime, so of course. #Boycott #Outrage

donworth.bsky.social3

What an embarrassment we have become.

May he be sent to Canada or Mexico then. He’s earned his spot

The chicken lady3

That FIFA Prize really paid off for FIFA, eh? Mobsters

FTZim2

This is the time for the sports fraternity to show unity against this act of blatant racism! If it's true that sports trumps all forms of hate, this the time for all well intentioned sportsmen and women to stand up and show some backbone against this racist act. African teams can boycott the games

Andrew Carlson2

When you’re bigger pieces of shit than FIFA

Why are you surprised? The current administration believes that only whites have the right to do anything in this country, even foreign-born whites. Did you really expect the current administration to respect POC World Cup soccer judges, coaches or players????

Cholmondley Warner 🇪🇺🔶2

I’m sure Infantino will be right along to say this is anti fifa ethics and the USA also needs to comply with terms of the contract for hosting the competition - that all player and fifa nominees must be granted entry to perform their duties etc…

askr99.bsky.social2

Imagine hosting a more authoritarian World Cup than Russia or Qatar…

surlybadger61.bsky.social2

As if there was any more proof was needed America under the GOP has become the bad guys.

Mark Nixon2

Anyone reckon that #Infantino is embarrassed? No, me neither. #corruptFIFA

Keith Fagandini2

This is shocking and shameful. The US should not even be considered b as a World Cup venue until they become a civilised country.

Andy54

Meanwhile FIFA continues to bow to Trump 😒

Cris 🇨🇦54

The worst part is they let you get on a freaking plane and travel for hours and hours vs having the decency to let you know before you board? Such bullshit.

danielmeade37

To be American now Is to be embarrassed

Insert_new_name_here27

If FIFA weren't so corrupt they would've pulled the plug months ago and either moved the World Cup to Europe or worked with Canada and Mexico to add a few more venues in each country and cut us out entirely. Not ideal, but definitely would've been possible (see: Women's World Cup 2007).

🔵Vincefil22

White South African referees are being aggressively recruited to replace him.

Stephens11

Effing outrageous. I hope he can switch with a referee in a different country so he can make history.

maryaskew.bsky.social9

Is it absolutely necessary for the Trump administrstion to embarrass normal Americans at every opportunity?

RascalAlice 🇺🇦8

Shame on FIFA but my understanding is that it's as crooked as our administration.

themedici.bsky.social5

"The Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to be the first official from his country to officiate at the World Cup, was turned back in Miami after flying in from Turkey, according to Somalian government officials." Obviously someone at CBP thought he was a "Somali refugee" and acted accordingly.

Observation Group X4

What if fans, officials, or players are harmed by this white‑supremacy insurrection? It is insane to run a FIFA event in a country in low‑intensity civil war — FIFA will share liability if anything goes wrong, and it already has. Stop the event until safety and legal obligations are secured.

Jim White4

The world is coming to understand that the US can’t be trusted to act like serious, relatively responsible country. It will take years of effort, which may well not succeed, to try to return this country to respectability.

Walter Wrona3

God, this is so embarrasing. Worst part is, as others have said, they could have easily let him know BEFORE he got on the plane and flew 20 something hours to get here.

Lake. Big Lake.3

Of course FIFA are doing nothing. Disgusting.

Call Me Garbage Again3

This will all become sports manipulation for betting

GUWonder2

If FIFA execs had any self-respect — the self-dealers don’t — they would make a big stink about this and perhaps even move more of the matches to Canada or Mexico so he could referee as intended originally.

Damian Lynch 🟧 🇦🇺 Rebellion is Mandatory during times of Tyranny16

I hope it’s a financial disaster for FIFA

WildlifeGardener13

All of the other officials need to get a spine & quit. Try having a World Cup without them. So ashamed of the United States.

P.E. Griffiths🍁9

Rabid racism loud and proud and openly on display for the entire world to see. Not unexpected by anyone paying attention to the corrupt fasciast regime.

Doremus J7

I’m not watching a single match. Not one.

L F Glatz6

And it is never just racism, right? What a disgrace.

Jolly Confused6

This is outrageous. What is FIFA, and Infantino in particular, going to do about this?

cyanine5

did these dumbfucks ever think about it being called "THE WORLD" Cup?. jfc this is beyond embarassing!

Doug5

Par for the course in America. In future tRump and the tRump crime family should be denied entry into any friking country.

Mother Nature Strikes Back!5

This makes me physically ill. In your face racism from my own country!

kevezc.bsky.social5

This country is so fucked up. God, so embarrassed….

skipf26.bsky.social5

They’re not even trying to hide the racism.

Huh…3

We have become an evil nation. I am so ashamed.

Not a friend of Tim Houston 🇨🇦3

Only the best referee unless he’s black.

Gary Knowles2

They are just brainless idiots.

ricardowensley.bsky.social2

The US proves again they elected racist shit to govern them. I hope they are ashamed but know they don’t care

sun-dayz.bsky.social2

The other day it was the Swiss forward Breel Embolo; then the Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein detained for 7 hours for questioning; Iran's technical bench & officials visa denial; Ivory Coast and Tunisia journalists are having multiple entry visa issues. Just throw this circus away at this point

Fair Robina2

We hate to say we told you s.... No, no we don't. We told you and you had to touch the stove anyway.

Michael3

1982, where Germany's goaltender Harald Schumacher leveled France's Patrick Battiston with a hip to the head that knocked his teeth out, knocked him unconscious, and put him into a coma is probably worse but this is right there.

Heidi Reinberg2

EVERYthing he touches turns to sh*t.

Dona Flaca9

Wow. This nation is really showing its true colors, loud and proud, to the whole world. How very tragic, shameful and disturbing.

AVM8

This country is so disgusting. I’m ashamed to say I live here. I never used to feel this way.

i’m waiting for the first teams to boycott the “world cup”. this is an American fucked up mess and should start to be a reason for any team to be embarrassed for participating in this fucked up world cup. hopefully it’s also the end of FIFA and Infantino.

hulkling 86 474

FIFA IS GREEDY AND RACIST shocking i know right

🌸🐱🐭🌸 🖇️2

Rid us of this meddlesome douchebag…

stmiley74.bsky.social2

It’s definitely because he’s a black African.

Jeff, formerly of MN and MA, still God of Cookies3

That was the first thing that hit me, and the immediate connection to Ilhan Omar, the occupation of the Twin Cities, and efforts to create accelerated mass-deportation processing for Somalis. Stephen Miller's evil is beyond my capacity to describe.

Alan Rudy2

It'd be a shame if a good number of referees refused their assignments - or even minimally worked to rule - in protest.

stevedoug22

Time for the world of football to walk away with their heads held high. Neither FIFA nor the US are fit to stage a World Cup.

greenegg9

There are going to be a lot more stories like this before it's over, or most likely, before it's even started.

Ellen aka Squirrel Girl3

Wow just wow I'm so embarrassed by my gov right now.

stillngb.bsky.social2

Not surprised but had to verify: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Cool G12

I hope the other referees show solidarity and demand he is allowed or they'll down whistles.

Martin B5

Also, from the Guardian report…

1977_Terri5

This is just the beginning. Wait until the stories about how fans get treated start. Worst place to be holding it imo

snowyd70.bsky.social2

In a just world, FIFA would impose a points deduction on the US team for this flagrant bollocks.