Does referee case show Fifa has lost control of its own World Cup?
In the past, World Cup hosts have tended to give Fifa what they want - and that includes easy access for officials and supporters. It
In the past, World Cup hosts have tended to give Fifa what they want - and that includes easy access for officials and supporters. It has been the case with two of the most divisive World Cups, in Russia and Qatar. Indeed, Russia positively rolled out the red carpet in 2018, removing any need for a visa. All supporters required was a valid passport and personalised card known as a 'Fan ID' to prove they were travelling for the football. In Qatar, fans needed a Hayya card - serving a dual purpose as a pre-screened travel entry document and an entry pass to games. That is not the case in the United States, with claims that barriers have consistently put fans off making the trip.
"You're supposed to be welcoming fans from around the world," Thomas Concannon, who leads the FSA's England fans' group, told BBC Sport in April. "And I think at this stage, fans couldn't feel less welcome." It is not even as though Trump inherited the tournament from another administration. It was endorsed and backed by his presidency, with the intention to bid lodged a few months after he took office in 2017. What has changed is the sheer extent of the immigration crackdown. Trump is happy to take the plaudits for the glitz and the glamour of the World Cup, but it will not distract from that key aim. It is not just Artan who cannot get into the United States.
Supporters of Iraq, which is not on the banned list, have described how they have given up trying to get into the country. Iran, meanwhile, on Tuesday said its allocation of tickets for the group stage has been revoked, because of a decision taken by US authorities. Infantino's words seem hollow. It is clear that this Trump administration has placed immigration above anything else - including this World Cup. The next test will come on Sunday, when Iran are due to fly into the United States for the first time. Iran has accused the US of denying visas to 15 "integral" members of their backroom staff. The squad are permitted to fly in and out of the country from Tijuana in Mexico within 24 hours for each match - but this has yet to be tested.
If a team cannot attend their own game, it would be another unprecedented twist. "Never have we seen so many World Cup coaches, team operations, fans and even senior administrators within Fifa member associations, subject to so much interrogation and exclusion," Fare's Powar added. "The disruption is such that one has to ask who is running the World Cup. Is it Fifa or is it the US government with its racially charged immigration policies?" As Fifa cannot get all of its referees into the country, it feels like the US government is in control.
The BriefWire