Sport for all? Not in the US.

Im surprised there havnt been more rejections, however all countries have been free to send teams, even Iran, so just one rejection is not a big deal it's their country their rules.

We have rules for visitors and migrants too and many rejections.

It is a bizarre decision. Why would a world class football referee with an international career choose to defect to a country where he would not be welcome, or able to pursue his career as an asylum seeker?

This World Cup is going to go down as one of the least inclusive in history, with low attendance numbers and a really bad taste hanging over the matches in the USA. It could have been so different.

David49

Im surprised there havnt been more rejections, however all countries have been free to send teams, even Iran, so just one rejection is not a big deal it's their country their rules.

We have rules for visitors and migrants too and many rejections.

I think you’re missing the point David49. If a team has no supporters able to attend their matches they are at a huge disadvantage.

He had an 11 hour interview . They decided to refuse him. They will have had reason.

Not sure why he's not been asked to do the Mexico or Canada games.

They have allowed the Iranian team in? Then call the Somalian referee a bad actor? Can't understand their logic.

The referees for each match are not selected far in advance REKA, they have to be able to cover matches in all three countries in the tournament.

Casdon

David49

Im surprised there havnt been more rejections, however all countries have been free to send teams, even Iran, so just one rejection is not a big deal it's their country their rules.

We have rules for visitors and migrants too and many rejections.

I think you’re missing the point David49. If a team has no supporters able to attend their matches they are at a huge disadvantage.

There will be supporters from many countries that have visits refused, just because you say you are a football supporter does not mean you get a visa to travel to the UK.

Visas to travel to the UK are very difficult to get which is why so many try to get here illegally, it's the same in the US and many others

Casdon

The referees for each match are not selected far in advance REKA, they have to be able to cover matches in all three countries in the tournament.

Ah, of course. That makes perfect sense, thanks.

At a competition like the World Cup there will a few supporter from each overseas team plus a lot of locals to fill the stadium. The locals cheer whichever team plays best especially if they are the underdogs, the US, Mexico and Canada are the only home teams, they have to play well to get the fans on their side, there is nothing worse for a home team than their own fans silent or leaving early.

David49

Im surprised there havnt been more rejections, however all countries have been free to send teams, even Iran, so just one rejection is not a big deal it's their country their rules.

We have rules for visitors and migrants too and many rejections.

Iran have to stay in Mexico and fly on the day to any matches they have at US stadiums.

He had a valid U.S. travel visa issued by the U.S. Embassy as part of the FIFA scheme.
Yes, the Trump administration has a travel ban (which targets 39 countries, including Somalia) BUT it includes exceptions for World Cup athletes, coaches, and vital staff.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged him, detained him, and after hours of additional screening, declared him "inadmissible".

NOT acceptable! He had already been granted the visa.

I do think we know how football games work David49. Any side, particularly when playing away from home, benefits hugely from their own supporters cheering them on.
There will be less crowds that usual, and from the countries where supporters have been banned from travelling, their countrymen who live in the USA will be very wary of attending because of the risk of ICE being there waiting for them.

Strangely David49 when we lived in America the cheering of the underdog was not what we saw.

It seems to be like that here (maybe?) but in North America it seems everyone loved a winner!

NotSpaghetti

He had a valid U.S. travel visa issued by the U.S. Embassy as part of the FIFA scheme.
Yes, the Trump administration has a travel ban (which targets 39 countries, including Somalia) BUT it includes exceptions for World Cup athletes, coaches, and vital staff.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged him, detained him, and after hours of additional screening, declared him "inadmissible".

NOT acceptable! He had already been granted the visa.

A lot of those with Visas not associated with World Cup have had travel stopped, Somalia isnt a particular focus with the US, this person had something in his profile that was not disclosed when the visa was granted.

Getting a visa from the UK to US is easy it's not from many other countries.

I find that very difficult to believe. He’s an international referee, he routinely travels all over the world, and goes through passport control.

I have read quite a few things about the orange baby's handling of the FIFA World Cup and if only half of them are true he is going to ruin the whole thing.

I read that many foreign fans' visas were issued and paid for only to be rescinded and no refunds offered.

In the run up Gianni Infantino engineered the creation of a FIFA peace prize which was awarded to the orange one, in December last year, in order to pave the way to the USA hosting the World Cup. This allied FIFA with the Republican Party and went against their stated belief in political neutrality. Trump literally grabbed the prize with both hands before nabbing the actual Nobel Peace prize from Maria Corina Macado about a month later.

Republican strongholds have been given precedence over Democratic areas as hosts, regardless of the condition of the stadium in which the matches would be played.

ICE will be present at USA matches, presumably to make sure that players and fans feel intimidated.

Trump has described Somalians as 'garbage' which, of course, has no bearing on the fact that a first rate Somalian referee has had his visa withdrawn and he has been deported following an eleven hour show interview.

It will be interesting to see who wins the FIFA Peace Prize in December this year.

Exactly Casdon.

David49

Im surprised there havnt been more rejections, however all countries have been free to send teams, even Iran, so just one rejection is not a big deal it's their country their rules.

We have rules for visitors and migrants too and many rejections.

It IS a big deal and he’s not the only one connected to the Works Cup denied entry.

Even more disturbingly are those, some of whom already had visas in place, who after buying tickets, booking flights and paying for accommodation suddenly find their visa status has changed to pending then refused.

There was something yesterday about this happening to a Scottish family and I’ve read about others.

One reason given was that the person travelling was on a cruise in 2023 and it stopped in the port of Cuba. Another was about some “insulting” comment about Trump on Social Media.

We’ve visited the USA a few times prior to either of Trumps terms, our electronic visas were accepted in a matter of hours.

My daughter went to NY a couple of years ago, between Trump’s terms, and her and her gf’s visas took far longer to agree and upon arrival her gf was pulled into a room, no reason given, and questioned. When she told them she worked for the UK government she was immediately escorted back to my daughter and allowed to proceed. No reason or explanation was given nor an apology offered. Both girls were quite shaken up and vowed they’d never return.

The amount of people travelling to the US part of the Workd Cup is far lower than anticipated and I believe Trump and his job are the cause of this.

Also I caught the middle of the first WC match yesterday in Mexico, I believe. There were a huge amount of empty seats.

FIFA booked up many hotels and then cancelled leaving a lot of empty rooms. The prices have risen too so many won't be booking.