FIFA president Gianni Infantino says people need to “chill” and trust the game’s governing body as visa issues mount ahead of the World Cup.
Infantino addressed the media in Mexico City on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) ahead of the tournament opener between the co-hosts and South Africa.
In the lengthy press conference, FIFA’s boss defended the organisation’s handling of various visa problems, along with ticket prices at the event.
Infantino was pressed on Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan having his World Cup dream ended by border control.
Artan, who was due to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday.
“It was unfortunate what happened with the referee from Somalia,” Infantino said.
“Again, we don’t control everything. We tried to discuss, we speak. Sometimes it’s good as well just to chill, relax.
“We try to solve everything, [but] screaming and shouting, that’s the opposite of finding a solution.
“We try always to find solutions [but] we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments, police forces.”
Pressed on his comments, Infantino said: “I don’t mean ‘chill and do nothing’, I mean to trust us.
“We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and find solutions. Sometimes we manage, sometimes we do not.”
The Iranian football team has also had its struggles in the months after the US, with Israel, launched military attacks on the country.
That included relocating their training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, and members of the delegation being denied visas for the US.
Infantino, who said he had no regrets about selecting the US as one of the co-hosts, made it clear he felt only FIFA could have ensured Iran made it to the World Cup at all.
“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup,” he said.
“I promised them they will come.”
Infantino also defended the astronomical prices of some tickets at the tournament
He said the average price was about $US500 ($714) and compared it to playoff tickets in the major American sporting codes.
“If we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong,” Infantino said.
ABC Sport will be live blogging every moment of the FIFA World Cup. Follow live at abc.net.au/news/sport.
AAP/AP/PA
