Trump Watch: Diary of a Trumpian World Cup as UEFA come to the rescue over ref disgrace

UEFA have appointed Somalian referee Omar Artan to the Super Cup final between Paris St Germain and Aston Villa.

The 34-year-old was removed by FIFA from the list of World Cup referees after he was refused entry to the USA by Customs officials at Miami International Airport.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino then caused uproar when, in a press conference on Wednesday, he said people should chill, relax when asked about the Artan situation.

UEFA have stepped in and following discussions with the Confdration Africaine de Football (CAF), Europes governing body has appointed the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year to their flagship curtain raiser on August 12.

Artan has been on the FIFA international list since 2018.

He had been included by FIFA in the match officials list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 but could not participate as he was not allowed to enter the United States.

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England's World Cup preparations have been rocked... Literally.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Cuba, and the tremors have been felt in Florida where Thomas Tuchel's squad have been preparing for Wednesday's friendly against Costa Rica (9pm Irish time).

It's the strongest earthquake to hit Florida in over 150 years.

England are training in West Palm Beach, around 500km away from the epicentre.

The US National Weather Service confirmed the quake on social media, posting: Weve received several recent reports of shaking across Southwestern Florida within the past 30 minutes.

Despite the strength of the quake, no major damage has been reported in Florida.

At least this slice of off-field drama can't be pinned on Fifa chief Gianni Infantino and US president Donald Trump.

US customs officials were accused of treating players and staff of Senegal and Uzbekistan as criminals over some overzealous bag searches.

Uzbekistan were in New York to take on the Netherlands in a friendly when they were stopped as they disembarked their bus at the Ichan Stadium.

An ESPN video showed shocked staff being stopped by security officials, who ordered them to stop before searching them with metal detectors.

They then threw all the kit bags in a pile and had sniffer dogs examine them.

This wasnt the only such incident. Senegals players were made to wait on the tarmac after they got off their flight in North Carolina.

They too were subjected to a metal detector search, while bags were examined.

Meanwhile, it emerged that Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was held for questioning for seven hours at Chicagos OHare Airport.

Fifas meek confirmation that Somalian referee Omar Artan wont officiate at this summers World Cup flies in the face of Gianni Infantinos confident nothing to see here assertion last year.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there. Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year, blustered Gianni.

Tell that to Africas top referee Artan, whose dream of becoming the first Somalian to referee at a World Cup has been cruelly robbed from him.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) claimed in a statement to the Atlantic that Artan was denied following a routine inspection.

Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.

That wouldnt have anything to do with Donald Trumps constant attacks on Somalians, would it?

Only last month, Trump told a cabinet meeting that Somalian immigrants were all crooks, while he has repeatedly mocked Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American to be elected to Congress.