Omar Artan Case Raises World Cup Host Obligations, Says Former FIFA Boss Blatter

Former FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter has insisted that the governing body must preserve the universality of football, following the controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan’s exclusion from the 2026 World Cup.

Blatter said World Cup host nations have a responsibility to provide security while also ensuring unrestricted entry for all qualified participants, including referees and officials.

“A FIFA World Cup host country must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country – and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees,” he stated.

The former FIFA chief specifically referenced Artan’s case, suggesting it may be inconsistent with the expectations placed on tournament hosts.

“The case of referee Omar Artan from Somalia is against one of these obligations.”

He further stressed that football’s global nature should never be compromised.

“FIFA must never compromise the universality of football.”

Artan was denied entry into the United States ahead of the World Cup after a U.S. government official cited an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”

FIFA later confirmed that the Somali official would not be able to participate in the competition.

“Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.”

The world football governing body maintained that visa and immigration matters fall under the jurisdiction of host countries and said it does not intervene in such processes.

Although he will miss the World Cup, Artan has been handed a major European assignment after UEFA selected him to officiate the 2026 Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

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