FIFA president Gianni Infantino says people need to “chill” and trust the game’s governing body as visa issues mount ahead of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Infantino addressed the media in Mexico City on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) ahead of the tournament opener between the co-hosts and South Africa.<\/p>\n
In the lengthy press conference, FIFA’s boss defended the organisation’s handling of various visa problems, along with ticket prices at the event.<\/p>\n
Infantino was pressed on Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan having his World Cup dream ended by border control.<\/p>\n
Artan, who was due to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Somali referee denied entry to US<\/a><\/p>\n Highly rated Somali referee Omar Artan is turned away from the US just days before he was expected to officiate in the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n “It was unfortunate what happened with the referee from Somalia,” Infantino said.<\/p>\n “Again, we don’t control everything. We tried to discuss, we speak. Sometimes it’s good as well just to chill, relax.<\/p>\n “We try to solve everything, [but] screaming and shouting, that’s the opposite of finding a solution.<\/p>\n “We try always to find solutions [but] we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments, police forces.”<\/p>\n Pressed on his comments, Infantino said: “I don’t mean ‘chill and do nothing’, I mean to trust us.<\/p>\n