JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned the reported deportation of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from the United States, describing the incident as part of a broader pattern of discrimination and exclusion surrounding the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the party led by Julius Malema said Artan’s removal was “the latest example of unfair treatment” affecting participants linked to the global football tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“The treatment of Omar Artan raises serious concerns about equality, dignity and fairness in international sport,” the EFF said, arguing that administrative and political barriers risk undermining the spirit of the World Cup before the competition has even begun.
The party linked the case to wider concerns over travel restrictions and visa-related difficulties faced by some nations preparing for the tournament.
EFF pointed to recent reports that Iran’s national football team was forced to abandon plans to establish a training base in the United States and instead relocate preparations to Mexico following complications involving visas, security concerns and entry restrictions.
According to the party, the incidents highlight what it described as a troubling pattern in which certain countries and individuals encounter greater obstacles than others when seeking to participate in events connected to the World Cup.
“The World Cup should be a celebration of global unity through sport, not a platform where discrimination and unequal treatment determine who can participate,” the statement said.
The party called on FIFA and tournament organizers to ensure that all players, officials and support personnel are treated fairly regardless of nationality, religion or political circumstances.
The controversy comes as preparations intensify for the 2026 World Cup, the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams and to be staged across three host nations.
Neither FIFA nor U.S. authorities immediately commented on the EFF statement.
