Right and Wrong

Summer, 1999. Victoria, BC.

A communication arrives from the Rugby Canada head office. To my absolute delight, and to cap years of hard work, I learn of my selection as a match official for the upcoming World Cup.

This fourth edition of the tournament, but the first held in the sport’s professional era, sees 41 matches take place at 18 venues across Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland and France.

My memories of the global event remain vivid. Arriving in Cardiff the third week of September for a weeklong training camp. A spectacular tournament opener on October 1 at the Millenium Stadium. The championship decider six weeks later between Australia and France.

Along the way, I experience firsthand the cauldron of a packed Twickenham Stadium. Run shoulder to shoulder with Kiwi colossus Jonah Lomu.

Yet, most of all, I recall the satisfaction of achieving a career goal. And the simple joy of being part of a high performing team. One of 28 bent on backing each other, of enjoying the laughs and banter, of providing support to help handle any disappointments or low moments.

Fast forward to present day. Another major international sporting event looms on the immediate horizon.

The 2026 Soccer World Cup.

The pure numbers themselves beggar belief. Three host countries, the USA, Canada, and Mexico, await an expanded field of 48 teams. A staggering 104 matches to be played at 16 venues over 39 days. The usual suspects favoured to advance. Still, a number of upstarts lurk menacingly, while others hope just to reach the rather bloated and labyrinthine knockout stages.

Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, the tournament already faces plenty of controversy. Danger even, given the world’s current complex political, economic, and social dynamics.

At its best, sport brings people together, promotes fair play, champions unity. Alas, American president Donald Trump, along with FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino, do anything but. Sport, in their eyes, something to encroach upon, shape and reshape, mould into their own image.

Guaranteeing that decadence, immorality, greed, chaos, cruelty, and blatant racism will be the order of the day.

Problematic issues abound. Allegations emerge of bribery and corruption on a massive scale. Legitimate fear surrounds visa rules and regulations, immigration, the deployment of ICE agents, and general security for spectators, journalists, players and other team personnel.

Then, add in impossibly high ticket, hotel, and ground transport prices, symbolic of price gouging and profiteering. Cities struggle under the immense financial burden of hosting matches. All while dealing with searing summer heat, crazy kickoff times, and the real possibility of labour unrest.

The so proclaimed “Beautiful Game” suddenly not quite so enchanting.

Still, for me personally, one other situation bites particularly hard.

A Somali referee, set to become the first person from his country to officiate at a World Cup, is denied access to the USA. Arriving

in Miami, grilled for hours by Customs officials, he is the only one of the 52 selected referees to be barred entry.

As a result, he will not work the tournament. The dream of a lifetime shattered.

He is Omar Artan.

The 34 year old is certainly no slouch. Since 2018, a highly capable, no nonsense, FIFA accredited referee. The 2025 African Confederation Men's Referee of the Year. The first Somalian

to officiate in the Africa Cup of Nations and to handle 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. One of three African referees selected to the upcoming global showcase.

A man described by his country’s president as “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis.”

May the soccer community, especially the officiating team now in place at the World Cup, rally to his support. Express anger and displeasure at a Trump administration decision, one upheld by a cowardly Infantino and FIFA, which totally undermines the sport’s supposed “commitment to equality, merit, and sense of fair play.”

But do not hold your breath. Trump and his inner circle of sycophants and lackeys continue to foster new levels of pain, retribution, and bigotry. Infantino dares not cross them.

Almost certainly, others will soon fall prey to injustice similar to that of Artan.

In protest, I plan to join the thousands of others similarly embarrassed and disgusted. And so, I choose not to watch any of the 2026 World Cup.

I know from personal experience the rare opportunity Artan will be missing.

In this vein, four words, those of a wise old man, a mentor to many, echo in my mind.

“Right Man. Wrong country.”

Editor's note:

The 2026 World Cup, promoted as "the greatest show on earth," begins Thursday, June 11 when Mexico hosts South Africa.

Yet, Donald Trump's political influence and controversial policies cast a long, dark shadow. As a result, despite FIFA's boast that 2026 ticket requests outstrip those of the combined 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, plenty of tickets remain available.