Boston: Football fans and stakeholders have lamented travel restrictions and visa ban on referees, players and fans at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Ghana’s Thomas Partey is the latest as he was denied entry into Canada due to his ongoing case in England, excluding him from Ghana’s opening match against Panama on June 17. The former Arsenal midfielder is set to stand trial as he had been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, FIFA confirmed the visa ban in a statement released on Friday, stating that host countries reserved the right to approve or deny visas for tournament participants. The statement explained that Thomas Partey would not be able to leave the Ghana national team’s camp in Boston to head to Canada for his country’s first match against Panama, following the Canadian government’s refusal to issue him a visa. FIFA clarified that it is not involved in the immigration proc
edures of host countries, including decisions to grant or deny visas, noting that the host government holds the final decision regarding visa issuance and allowing individuals to enter its territory.
Reacting to FIFA’s statement, Kofi Adams, Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, argued that the football governing body should not allow host countries to deny visas for players. Adams emphasized that FIFA should have intervened in such matters, especially for players involved in the tournament. The Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the country is engaged in discussions with relevant Canadian authorities on the issue, highlighting diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation.
The statement released by the ministry underscored the significance of Partey’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, urging Canada to reconsider its decision in the interest of fairness and common law principles. Should Ghana advance to the knock-out stage, Partey’s presence on Canadian soil would be crucial fo
r the team.
Partey’s visa ban is one of several travel controversies that have emerged from the ongoing World Cup. Somali referee Omar Artan was recently denied entry into the U.S., preventing him from officiating at the World Cup. Omar, named Africa’s Referee of the Year, faced entry denial by U.S. border officials at Miami International Airport due to security and vetting concerns. Additionally, reports indicate that a Senegalese supporter’s delegation will not attend the World Cup in the U.S. after their visa applications were denied.
Football enthusiast James Ogunjimi expressed his concerns on social media, arguing that countries with restrictive travel policies should not host FIFA tournaments. He contended that international tournaments should be free from such political constraints.
Arsenal legend and former England international Ian Wright also criticized the situation, describing it as chaotic. Wright pointed out the high costs of tickets and travel, along with the visa rejections, questioning the
behavior of the host countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the FIFA World Cup is currently ongoing in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 nations. The tournament commenced on June 11 and will conclude on July 19.