Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter has responded publicly to the recent visa scandals surrounding the current FIFA World Cup. Blatter, who held the position for many years, reminded the current FIFA leadership of the essential values that underpin the world’s largest sporting event.
He expressed concern that the ongoing issues at the World Cup are undermining the authority and core mission of FIFA. Blatter emphasized that any country awarded the right to host the World Cup is subject to strict international obligations, which include two crucial commitments: ensuring complete internal security and providing unrestricted entry for all qualified teams, officials, and referees.
This criticism was sparked by the incident involving Somali referee Omar Artan, who encountered significant immigration obstacles on his way to the tournament. Blatter highlighted that this situation constitutes a clear violation of FIFA regulations and the fundamental responsibilities of the host nation.