Wright also asserted that this year’s World Cup remains the tournament with the most expensive tickets, accommodation, and transport.
By Kehinde Okeowo
British pundit and Arsenal legend Ian Wright has described this summer’s World Cup as ‘chaos’ following a series of events unfolding ahead of its commencement.
The ex-Gunners striker made his feelings about the Mundial—which is expected to begin on June 11—known in a now-viral video posted on social media.
His comments came after Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first official from his country to referee at a World Cup, was denied entry into the United States.
The award-winning official was initially selected by FIFA as one of 52 referees for this year’s tournament, but he was eventually removed from the world football governing body’s roster following the incident.
Expressing his disappointment over the development during a recent interview, Artan said: “I am very, very disappointed. I’m simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream—the biggest dream of my life—to come to the World Cup.”
He added: “I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa.”
Reacting to the news, Wright said the decision to deny Artan entry into the United States, and his subsequent deportation to Turkey, would be embarrassing for American football fans.
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He noted that aside from this incident, there are reports that players, officials, and journalists have equally been denied access to the country.
The English media personality further asserted that this year’s tournament features the most expensive tickets, accommodation, and transport in World Cup history.
Speaking in the video clip, Wright said: “I have just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry. Every few hours, it’s another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs.
“You know something, I am laughing, but it’s not funny, it’s actually not funny, and something has to be said.
“The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said.
“You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, American soccer fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.
“This is the World Cup, this is a World Cup of chaos. Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done.
“I hope we can do it, but something has to be said now. This is the World Cup.”
