FIFA Faces Referee Visa Ban and Platini Lawsuit Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Somali referee Omar Artan, Africa’s 2025 Referee of the Year, was denied a visa to enter the United States and Canada, preventing him from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA said the decision follows the host‑nation governments’ visa policies, leaving the organization short one official for the 104‑match tournament but stating no immediate impact on scheduling.

Separately, former UEFA president Michel Platini filed a criminal complaint in France accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino and five former Swiss football officials of conspiring to block his own presidential bid a decade ago. Platini is also pursuing a civil claim for damages, alleging false accusations and illegal influence within FIFA’s governance.

Both developments emerge weeks before the tournament’s opening in the United States, Canada and Mexico, highlighting governance tensions within the sport’s global governing body.