New York, June 10: Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has issued an open letter demanding the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid rising controversies surrounding U.S. immigration policies. This letter comes just one day before the commencement of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Recent incidents involving teams and officials traveling for the tournament have raised concerns. The Iranian national team had to relocate their training camp to Mexico due to visa issues, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the U.S. Iraqi striker Ayman Hussein was held at Chicago airport for seven hours, and the team photographer Talha Salah was barred from entering the country.
According to reports from Xinhua, teams from Senegal and Uzbekistan faced extensive searches upon arrival in the U.S. There is also uncertainty regarding whether fans and journalists from countries affected by U.S. travel bans will be able to participate in the tournament.
Gullit, who has played 66 matches for the Netherlands, is regarded as one of the nation’s greatest players. In his letter, he expressed, “I have remained silent for a long time because I wanted to view this World Cup from a football perspective, but as preparations progress, it is becoming clear that football is no longer the main issue. Therefore, I believe Gianni Infantino should seriously consider stepping down as FIFA President. The World Cup should unite people, but instead, it is becoming a symbol of division, political disputes, travel restrictions, and administrative failures.”
He further stated, “We are receiving reports that ticket allocations for Iranian fans have been canceled. We have seen the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was selected by FIFA for top-level refereeing based on merit, yet was denied entry into the host country. These are not trivial issues; they undermine the spirit that the World Cup should represent.”
Gullit emphasized that FIFA cannot present football as a global sport while qualified supporters, officials, and participants face obstacles unrelated to football. “The organization’s primary responsibility is to ensure fairness and accessibility in the competition,” he added.
He directly criticized Infantino, stating, “Leadership does not mean taking photos with leaders or celebrating commercial success. Leadership means taking responsibility in difficult times. Therefore, I believe Mr. Infantino should ask himself whether he is still the right person to lead world football. The football world deserves answers, accountability, and leadership. If these cannot be provided under the current administration, perhaps it is time for new leadership in FIFA. The World Cup belongs to the world, not to governments, political interests, or football administrators. It belongs to the players, referees, and fans.”
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 8 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Udaipur Kiran & Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
