Infantino says FIFA 'not kings of the world'' and trying to resolve Somali referee's World Cup case

(10 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP AND SNTV CLIENTS MAY USE ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP AND SNTV CLIENTS MAY USE Mexico City - 10 June 2026 1. FIFA President Gianni Infantino holding soccer ball during press conference at Mexico City Stadium on eve of opening match of 2026 FIFA World Cup ++BLACK FRAMES++ 2. SOUNDBITE Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA: "Of course it is unfortunate as well what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia. But again, we don't control everything. We try, we'll discuss, we will speak, we will see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax. We work on everything. We try to solve everything. Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution. Believe me when I tell you, or don't believe me if you don't want, but we try always to find solutions, always, but then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces and I don't know what. We are a sports organization, we try to do our best with the means that we have." ++ENDS IN SOUNDBITE++ STORYLINE: Gianni Infantino said it was “unfortunate” that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S. and said people “should chill.” Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament. He was denied entry to the U.S. at Miami International Airport on Saturday over unspecified “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement, without giving details of the concerns. FIFA subsequently cut him from the tournament's referee Speaking during a press conference in Mexico on the eve of the start of the World Cup, Infantino said FIFA cannot dictate to governments who to let into their countries, though it is working “behind the scenes.” “We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions," he said. "Sometimes we manage, other times not.” Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which processed it. The U.S. is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada, and Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami. Its highly unusual move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country drew outrage across the world and raised questions among some fans about America's capacity to host the competition. Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. AP video shot by: Lissette Romero =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...