US accused of treating World Cup teams like ‘criminals’

The United States has been slammed for subjecting members of Senegal and Uzbekistan’s football teams to ‘humiliating’ security checks.

The teams arrived in San Antonio and New York ahead of the World Cup this month, but were forced to undergo detailed security screenings.

Senegalese players underwent intense bag inspections at the airport, while Uzbek players faced drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors upon arrival at their training venue.

Video footage showed security officials testing the shoes of players and scanning them on the tarmac.

One X account said of the Senegal security screenings: ‘This is straight up humiliation and a disgrace. They’d never put white boys through the same.’

Footage of the Uzbek team arriving at their training facility showed the coaches and players being scanned by security and being told to put their bags into a pile as a sniffer dog inspected them.

Increased security measures and visa restrictions have shone a spotlight on procedures at this year’s World Cup in the United States.

One Somali referee who was chosen to officiate the World Cup was denied entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport.

Omar Artan was turned away because of ‘vetting concerns’.

More than a quarter of the countries taking part in the World Cup are affected by travel bans to the country and have higher visa rejection rates, the BBC found.

Because of visa issues and ongoing geopolitical tensions, members of Iran’s football team were forced to land in Mexico.

All three of Iran’s group games are in the United States, but players and staff will have to fly in and out of the country on the day of each match.

Iran said 15 officials and other staff were denied visas flat out, which they have branded political interference.

A US administration official said: ‘We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.’

Fans are also facing major hurdles. Julien Kouadio Adonis, a member of the Ivory Coast’s fan association, described the bans as a form of segregation.

‘No European country has faced this kind of restriction,’ he told the BBC. ‘Why Africa?’

Mr Adonis said football is a game that needs spectators, and said a country which doesn’t want to welcome all supporters shouldn’t be allowed to host the tournament.

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