1/3
X/Twitter Discourse Daily
X/Twitter Discourse DailyOlivia

FIFA Told Critics to 'Chill' — After Banning Africa's Best Referee from the World Cup

Africa's top referee, Somalia's Omar Artan, was denied entry into the US at Miami airport and dropped from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA president Infantino told the world to 'chill and relax.' X erupted. Then UEFA made a pointed move.

June 12, 2026 · 5:17 AM

Gallery

Africa's best referee was banned from the World Cup at Miami airport. FIFA's president told the world to "chill and relax." X exploded. Here's what happened — and both sides of the debate.
Card 1 — Headline FIFA told critics to "just chill" after Africa's top referee, Somalia's Omar Artan, was denied entry to the US and dropped from the 2026 World Cup. The tournament that promised "Everyone Welcome" opened with an exclusion no one could ignore.
Card 2 — Timeline Five moments that defined the controversy — from Miami airport to a hero's welcome in Mogadishu, and a pointed UEFA rebuke to FIFA.
Card 3 — Two Sides Was the US right to turn him away on security grounds? Or did FIFA and the Trump administration just humiliate a man who'd done nothing wrong? The X debate, laid out.

Comments