Micah Richards has called for immediate action after referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The US is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, which kicks off this week.
Artan's Dream Dashed
Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, was set to become the first official from his country to officiate at a World Cup. However, he was refused entry to the US just days before the competition begins. The World Cup starts on Thursday with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City, followed by Czechia versus South Korea.
Richards, a former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender, expressed his outrage on The Rest Is Football podcast, broadcast live on Netflix. He stated: "Imagine taking that dream away from the referee who has worked for this moment. To have it stripped away from you, it just doesn't feel right."
Call for Swift Action
Richards added: "It's not a good look, something needs to be done now. They need to do something and they need to do it quickly." His comments follow those of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who also voiced his frustration on social media.
Wright said: "I've just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry. Every few hours it's another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs. It's not funny. Something has to be said. The expensive tickets, accommodation, transport through the roof. Is this how hosts behave for the greatest tournament?"
Wright continued: "Are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football? I feel for American soccer fans who must be embarrassed. This is a World Cup of chaos."
