A ball hasn’t even been kicked and already the World Cup is off to a terrible start.

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Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali ever to referee at the tournament, has been dropped from FIFA’s list of match officials after he was denied entry to the United States. No reason has been given for Artan’s repatriation, although Somalia is one of several countries on Donald Trump’s travel ban list.

Like any sovereign nation, the US is entitled to enforce whichever immigration rules it chooses, but FIFA’s craven capitulation to the White House is beyond pathetic. Why didn’t they demand an exception be made for a man who appears to pose zero threat and who is clearly among the world’s best officials, having been named the Confederation of African Football men’s referee of the year in 2025?

FIFA could also have reached some form of compromise, for instance,........

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