Former England international Ian Wright has criticised the reported denial of a visa to Somali referee Omar Artan, the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year, describing the incident as another example of the growing problems surrounding preparations for the World Cup in the United States.
Speaking publicly about the situation, Wright expressed frustration at what he sees as a pattern of difficulties affecting those involved in the tournament.
According to Wright, reports of fans, players, journalists and now match officials being denied entry are raising serious questions about the organisation and accessibility of football's biggest event.
"Every few hours, it's another story," Wright said.
"Fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs."
Although Wright laughed while making the remarks, he quickly stressed the seriousness of the issue.
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"It's not funny," he said. "Something has to be said."
The former Arsenal striker questioned whether such incidents reflected the spirit expected of a World Cup host nation.
He pointed to the significant financial commitment made by supporters travelling to the tournament, noting the rising costs of tickets, accommodation and transport.
"These are the most expensive tickets ever. Accommodation is expensive, transport is through the roof," Wright said.
"Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world?"
Wright also suggested that similar issues in previous World Cups had attracted much greater international scrutiny.
Referring to the criticism directed at Qatar before and during the 2022 tournament, he questioned whether the same standards were being applied to the current hosts.
"Have we seen how Qatar got dragged? Are we not hearing more?" he asked.
The comments come amid growing concern among some football observers that visa and entry complications could affect participants and supporters travelling from around the world.
While the specific circumstances surrounding Artan's reported visa denial have not been fully detailed publicly, the incident has prompted debate about the challenges facing a tournament that depends upon the smooth movement of players, officials, media representatives and fans.
Wright reserved particular sympathy for football supporters in the United States, many of whom have long awaited the opportunity to host the world's premier football competition.
"You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans that are desperate for this," he said.
"How embarrassed they must be."
Describing the situation as a "World Cup of chaos", Wright warned that continued disruptions risk overshadowing the football itself.
"This is the World Cup," he said. "Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done."
His remarks have added to wider discussions about whether the tournament's organisers and host authorities are doing enough to ensure that all accredited participants can attend without unnecessary obstacles.
For many within the game, the case of Omar Artan has become more than a dispute involving a single referee.
It has become a test of whether football's global showpiece can uphold the principles of openness, inclusion and fairness that the sport seeks to promote on the world stage.