Infantino on Referee Denied US Entry: Let's Just Relax and Unwind

FIFA President Gianni Infantino downplayed the embarrassing incident involving referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States by American authorities, preventing him from officiating matches at the 2026 World Cup. As a result, Africa's top referee for 2025 was forced to return to his home country.

“What happened with Omar is unfortunate. However, we don't control everything. Perhaps it's best to just relax and unwind. Sometimes shouting and screaming have the opposite effect,” Infantino commented at his press conference before the opening match of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City. He later revisited the topic: “I don't mean to relax and do nothing. Believe us, we are working behind the scenes and always trying to make the situation as positive as possible, and to find solutions. Sometimes we succeed, and other times we don't.”