New Delhi, June 11 -- FIFA (International Association Football Federation) president Gianni Infantino asked the critics to "chill and relax" after Somalian referee Omar Artan was denied an entry to the United States earlier this week. Voted as the best referee in Africa in 2025, Artan was set to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at the men's FIFA World Cup finals.

Artan was denied entry to the U.S. at Miami International Airport on Saturday over unspecified "vetting concerns," according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement. He was subsequently stripped off from the list of referees at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

According to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, Artan was issued a US visa last week and was due to catc...