FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for calm following the high-profile barring of Omar Abdulkadir Artan — the first Somali referee ever appointed to officiate at a FIFA World Cup — from entering the United States.

Artan held a valid visa but was detained for 11 hours by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before being declared inadmissible. Authorities cited vetting concerns and alleged associations with terror organisations as grounds for the decision. He was subsequently removed from the World Cup officiating roster and returned first to Turkey, then to Somalia.

Infantino's measured response

Speaking ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Infantino was candid about the limits of FIFA's authority, stressing that the organisation cannot compel governments to reverse sovereign security decisions.