Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter has hit out at football's ruling body and his successor there, Gianni Infantino, in connection with World Cup referee Omar Artan who was denied entry into the United States ahead of Thursday's tournament start.
“It’s unbelievable and absurd. If a country refuses to allow a referee to enter, that is a serious problem, and the World Cup should not take place in such a country,” Blatter told French sports daily L'Equipe.
Looking at FIFA, the 90-year-old added: “It has disregarded this principle, and the US has not respected it. We can no longer stop the tournament, but it is outrageous.
"The president should prove that he is stronger than his good friend in the White House, shouldn't he? It is bad when you are being directed by politics. And the other federations should also protest."
Baltter was referring to US President Donald Trump, with whom Infantino is close and under whose administration the US has tightened its immigration laws.
Somali national Artan was not allowed to enter the US although he had all relevant travel documents and was one of seven African referees selected by FIFA for the event.
Somali national Artan was then questioned for several hours by US Customs and Border Protection officers upon arrival in Miami. The CBP then denied him entry and deported him to Istanbul from where he had arrived.
Broadasters CNN said they were told by a Trump administration official that "the vetting uncovered 'derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations.'"
Somalia is among 39 countries on which the US has imposed strict immigration measures and among a smaller group of countries with a complete US entry ban unless an exception is made.
Infantino said last year that all teams and fans would be welcome but FIFA said on the Artan case that “in line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
Blatter presided over FIFA 1998-2015, stepped down in connection with a corruption affair and was banned for several years. He has criticised Infantino's way of leading FIFA on several occasions.
