@davidschneider "He never yet considered whether any proposition were true or false, but whether it were convenient for the present minute or company to affirm or deny it...the only remedy is to suppose, that you have heard some inarticulate sounds, without any meaning at all.." Jonathan Swift
The Senegalese 🇸🇳 delegation gets this treatment on arrival in the USA. Full tarmac searches, shoes off, bags turned inside out like criminals.
This is straight up humiliation and a disgrace. They’d never put white boys through the same.
Ian Wright is an absolute hero for saying how we all feel about this World Cup…
“I've just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry. Every few hours it's another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs," Wright said.
"You know something I'm laughing but it's not funny, it's actually not funny and something has to be said.
"The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said.
"Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world, is this how the hosts behave?
"Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?
"You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, American soccer fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.
"This is the World Cup, this is a World Cup of chaos. Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done.
"I hope we can do it, but something has to be said now. This is the World Cup."
🚨2. Here are some of the great writers, journalists & broadcasters that will also be onboard as we work to get Zeteo UK off the ground... @zeteo_news
🚨1. More professional news: I’m thrilled to be joining forces with @mehdirhasan and other colleagues to launch Zeteo UK. It’s a brilliant opportunity, alongside my other work, to help shape the fast growing independent media landscape with fresh perspectives and strong voices - rooted in solid journalism. @zeteo_news
👏 🇬🇧 Zeteo UK is here to disrupt Britain’s broken media! We’ll be bringing fearless, independent journalism to the UK - no bowing to political pressure, no corporate interests, just fearless journalism.
A reminder of why we need Zeteo UK (@zeteouk): to push back against this kind of lazy anti-Muslim racism from British media types.
So, you can pay to subscribe to https://t.co/nmEyvrbJJL and then live rent-free in Pollard’s bigoted head.
New in PN: A noxious orange cloud looms over the World Cup
"At the heart of the event lies a dispiriting contradiction: The World Cup is supposed to unite the world in a spirit of brotherhood and joy, yet it’s being hosted by a xenophobic, bigoted president who has done everything in his power to shut America’s doors to the world." https://t.co/kRGWURWwwX
Hosting the World Cup or any Fifa tournament has generally involved a guarantee of freedom of movement for all participating teams and staff. Note how it simply wasn’t an issue at recent World Cups
It is scandalous it has got to this
The 75 countries in red are the ones currently blocked from immigrating to the USA.
They also find it almost impossible to go to the World Cup, whether as a fan, journalist, player or even referee.
Why was the USA ever allowed to host the World Cup?
What has happened at the #2026WorldCup over the last 48 hours:
• Swiss footballer Embolo's visa was put under review and he was only able to join his team days later.
• Iraqi national team player Aymen Hussein was held for questioning for nearly 7 hours upon entering the United States.
• The Iranian national team spent days dealing with visa procedures at the U.S. Consulate in Türkiye. The U.S. only allowed them entry on match days. Fifteen members of the delegation were denied visas.
• Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named CAF's Best African Referee of 2025, was denied a visa. Despite travelling to the U.S. with a diplomatic passport, he was refused entry and sent back. FIFA announced that he will not be able to officiate at the tournament.
• The South African national team arrived in the United States much later than planned because part of the delegation was not granted visas.
• Members of the Senegal national team staff were forced to remove their shoes and subjected to lengthy searches, sparking accusations of racism.
• The Uzbekistan national team was searched with bomb-sniffing dogs and the footage went viral in international media.
• Some Scottish supporters, despite being eligible to enter the U.S. visa-free under the ESTA programme, had their travel authorisations revoked just days before departure.
• Many supporters who had already bought tickets and booked accommodation had their visa applications rejected, resulting in financial losses.
This should be the last time that America ever hosts a major international tournament - in any sport. The International Olympic committee should be watching very carefully for LA 2028
The USA is subjecting all the players from African and poor Asian countries to sniffer dogs and drug searches when they arrive in the USA and random searches at any time.
All the White teams get a pass.
The USA is such a racist hellhole, even worse than in the 1960s.
FIFA confirm Omar Abdulkadir Artan can’t officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States.
The Somali referee is one of Africa’s most respected officials. Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports say Artan travelled with a valid US visa.
Yet Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by President Trump’s administration.
🗣️ “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
Lowe and I have much in common. Neither of us is 'the establishment'. No private education here. You won't find a City banking career, or multi-millionaire ex-football Chairman or ex-Tory here. We're just common folk making ends meet..oh, hang on...think I have to check my notes.
The BBC need to explain why they constantly platform this ridiculous person when there are hundreds of far more qualified & elected MPs & Parliamentarians that are never invited onto their ‘political programmes’. We don’t pay our license fee for this toxicity. @bbclaurak@BBCNewsnight@bbcquestiontime