The Netherlands legend and Chelsea great, Ruud Gullit has come down hard on FIFA president, Gianni Infantino over his stance on the refusal of US authorities to allow Somalian referee, Omar Artan into the country to officiate in the 2026 World Cup which kicks off Thursday.
Gullit called on Infantino to resign as FIFA president for allowing the United States to politicise football.
“I have stayed quiet for a long time because I wanted to judge this World Cup on football matters. But the deeper we get into the preparations, the more it becomes clear that football is no longer the main story. For that reason, I believe Gianni Infantino should seriously consider stepping down as FIFA President.
“A World Cup should unite people. Instead, this tournament is becoming a symbol of division, political disputes, travel restrictions, and administrative failures.
“We are hearing reports that Iranian supporters have had their ticket allocations withdrawn. We have seen the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, selected by FIFA on merit to officiate at the highest level, yet reportedly denied entry into the host country. These are not minor issues. They strike at the heart of what the World Cup is supposed to represent.
“While qualified supporters, officials, and participants face barriers that appear unrelated to football itself.
“The organisation’s first responsibility is to protect the integrity and accessibility of the competition.
“Leadership is not about appearing in photographs with politicians or celebrating commercial success. Leadership is about taking responsibility when things go wrong. That is why I believe Mr Infantino must ask himself whether he is still the right person to lead world football.
“The football world deserves answers, accountability, and leadership. If those cannot be provided under the current administration, then perhaps the time has come for new leadership at FIFA,
“The World Cup “belongs to the world, not to governments, political interests, or football administrators. It belongs to the players, the referees, and the supporters.”
