# Ian Wright criticises World Cup organisation after referee denied entry to USA

By Michael Gietzen — 2026-06-09

Michael Gietzen, chief executive officer at Identity, said: “This shouldn’t still be happening at this stage.

“Rights holders and event organisers routinely work with national authorities well in advance – visas, accreditation, entry requirements – precisely to avoid situations like this. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s fundamental.

“When a referee is turned away at the airport weeks before the tournament starts, that’s not bad luck, that’s a planning failure.

“The law is the law, but nobody should be discovering its implications now.

“FIFA has run enough World Cups to know that reputation doesn’t manage itself, and that the window to get this right closes long before the opening ceremony.”

Canonical: https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/202/views/4e57d8fe72f79cec