Most recent thing I have seen is ties to known terrorist groups. Who knows, maybe he has a brother-in-law he never talks with who is in al-Shabab and nothing more innocuous. The real question is why doesn't FIFA just send the dude to Mexico for games? He has a current US Visa, which is instant admit to Mexico. There are three, yes 3, independent and sovereign nations with home sites. Why does this get turned into a Trump = Bad stance?
Because it's logical to question the honesty of this administration regarding virtually anything they say, that's why.
The outrage is easily misplaced. This is victimhood amped up for instant outrage because "everyone" knows the Trump regime is the most evil and crooked administration our country has ever known. I can't skim through anything without headlines popping of the S. African team being denied admission or the Senegalese team being "inhumanly" subjected to security screening on the tarmac. The outrage is silly.
You are providing too much common sense for our divided and inflammatory culture in the Summer of 2026. This kind of thinking does not fit in. (Sadly).
well, according to some, the referee training/home base is in Miami, and because he can’t get into the US, he can’t referee
I happened to just catch that as well -- an article from the BBC, I think. It said the main camp is in Miami and all referee's need to be based out of there for security and a 10 day long seminar. It didn't really say why Artan missed the first week, or so, of the seminar or why FIFA is powerless to change their own rules regarding Referee base camp.
If you can't see more than enough evidence justifying outrage, it's because you have your eyes closed. Outrage is clearly warrented.
In this case, it's likely because Somalia has a clan-based society, so he's probably related to someone on the no-no list.
Absolutely. F#ck Trump for not letting South Africans into Mexico. F#ck Trump for working with the Senegalese to expedite security at their request. Oh yeah, before I forget -- /S Outrage is becoming so knee-jerk it is starting to backfire quite poorly.
I imagine a big part of the 10 day seminar will be learning to count down from 5 in various languages. Based on the law changes that are coming in time wasting is getting a big clamp down
Obviously, FIFA could decide to move the referee base camp to Timbuktu or anywhere else. They have no reason to. Some of you might stop for half a second and notice that FIFA's only comment on the Somali guy has been a decided shrug and a " well, its up to the host nation". No complaint, no appeal from the (actual) 100 lawyers they employ in Florida. (Little known fact; 3 year's ago, Infantino moved the entire FIFA legal dept. to Miami, permanently, to Miami) As for the camp, all 170 officials are being taught and directed by the still frightening Pierluigi Collina, the man who never made a mistake. Ever. Or grew an eyebrow. Despite being selected for the WC these guyshavea widely varied skill level and theyre being evaluate as well as indoctrinated in exactly how Mr Collina wants it done. Advancing in the rounds is involved in this assessment.
Spot on. FIFA is not some babe in the woods victim laid out for the bad US government to eat. Highlighting Infantino and his cadre as victims is stupid, silly, and just plain dumb. If there was a will to get Artan on the pitch, they would do it. There is no desire -- the silence should be deafening.
Say it ain't so!!! Not the same man who moved himself and his children in to a free mansion in Qatar so that he wasn't eligible for extradition to Switzerland on conspiracy, fraud and bribery charges. I refuse to believe it.
Telemundo is broadcasting opening game coverage live from Mexico City. Fox? From an empty stadium in the USA. Telemundo FTW.
You learn real quick to watch Telemundo pregame coverage. Even during fall football games. Latina sports commentary is just a little more visually appealing than Portnoy, McAfee, and the ever charismatic Terry Bradshaw.
Watching the ITV broadcast with Champion and McCoist. They did not break for commercial during the 1H hydration. Nor was there any "sponsored by" messaging or graphics. Interesting to see if they can resist the temptation for another 103 or whatever games. It really is dead time and set up to break away. Like the 2 minute warning in the NFL.
Are we discussing results in this thread? I don't see (R) in the thread title and I don't want to ruin anyone's watching experience.