With a Somali referee deported, Iran forced to commute from Mexico, and ticket prices under investigation, Gianni Infantino used his World Cup eve press conference to defend Donald Trump and insist Fifa can’t — and shouldn’t — overrule governments.
Gianni Infantino walked into his pre-tournament press conference at the Azteca knowing exactly what was coming. Hours earlier, Somali referee Jama Artan had been interrogated for 11 hours at Miami International Airport, accused by US officials of links to terrorists, then sent back to Mogadishu. His World Cup was over before it began.
Infantino’s response? “It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia. Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.”
Not exactly a ringing show of support for an official whose career dream had just been killed by immigration enforcement.
On Iran — who’ve been told they must stay in Mexico and make same-day trips in and out of the US for their three group games — Infantino claimed credit. “When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I promised them that they would come,” he said. “I don’t know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances Iran could come and play.” Whether Iran actually make it through immigration for Monday’s opener against New Zealand remains to be seen.
On spiralling ticket prices, now under investigation by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas, Infantino was equally unbothered — dismissing the probes as based on “three, not 3,000” complaints, per BBC Sport.
And on Trump, whose administration has blocked officials, fans and competing nations from entering the US, Infantino was effusive. “I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement and his involvement, I think it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States.”
“We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” Infantino said. For Artan and thousands of priced-out fans, that will ring very hollow indeed.
NEWS NOW:
