Infantino could have stood up for the World Cup - but he said 'chill, relax'

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, 'Have you lost control?' - BBC sports editor asks Gianni Infantino By Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent Published 2 minutes ago Listening to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and you would think the controversy surrounding the 2026 World Cup in recent days has been insignificant. "Just, you know, chill, relax," Infantino told a news conference at the Azteca Stadium on the eve of Thursday's opening match between Mexico and South Africa. After all, it is not as though one of his referees was refused entry to the United States. Or Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for several hours at a Chicago airport before being allowed into the country. Nor that Iran have been forced to switch their base to Mexico, their fans have had all their tickets cancelled by US authorities, and members of the delegation refused visas. Of course, those incidents did all occur, and this was Infantino's chance to stand up for Fifa, to back Somali referee Omar Artan who had seen the pinnacle moment of his career ripped away from him. To criticise or question, if not condemn, the US government for the way the tournament has been handled. It did not happen. Africa's number one referee being turned away by immigration was just "unfortunate". And there was a robust defence of US President Donald Trump, with Infantino claiming a World Cup in the US would be "impossible" without the 79-year-old. Nothing to see here. 'Chill, relax, we can’t control everything' - relive Infantino news conference on eve of World Cup US official claims banned referee had links with 'terror organisations' Published 8 hours ago 'We are not the kings of the world' Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Gianni Infantino was first elected as Fifa president in 2016 When Infantino sat down at the Azteca he knew exactly which questions would be coming his way. How could he not? The expulsion of Artan after an 11-hour interrogation at Miami International Airport had come just hours earlier, accused by a US official of having links to terrorists in his homeland. "It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia," Infantino said. "But again, we don't control everything. "We try, we'll discuss, we'll speak, we'll see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax." Those words will have been of little comfort to Artan, who touched down back in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Wednesday after seeing his World Cup dream die. There were no words of support for the official, no regrets expressed. It was just "unfortunate". When questioned about other visa issues, which have affected fans and team delegates too, Infantino deflected attention to the 2035 Women's World Cup - which is almost certain to be awarded to the United Kingdom. "Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British government who to let in the country and who not to let in the