orgen
Active Member
Senegal and Uzbekistan national team players were subjected to strict security searches on the tarmac of a US airport ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Viral footage showed players from both teams undergoing detailed inspections, including shoe removal, metal detector scans, and sniff dog checks, which sparked accusations of discrimination and comparisons to criminal treatment.
The Senegal Football Federation clarified that the procedure was a pre-planned logistical arrangement designed to bypass crowded airport terminals and facilitate boarding onto their private flight. However, FIFA and many fans criticized the optics, noting that similar high-profile European teams were not subjected to the same visible, public scrutiny.
Other African football figures also faced entry issues in the US, including:
- Omar Abdulkadir Artan: The Somali referee, named CAF Referee of the Year, was denied entry despite holding a valid visa.
- Talal Salah: Iraq’s team photographer was barred from entering the US.
- Aymen Hussein: An Iraqi forward was detained and questioned for seven hours upon arrival.