Roy Keane and Ian Wright Interrupt ITV Football Chat to Criticize FIFA for Having “No Clue”
ITV pundits Roy Keane and Ian Wright used their coverage of the Club World Cup to criticise FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, saying the governing body appeared to have “no idea” and “no clue” about the wider problems affecting the tournament. Their comments came as off-field controversies intensified around the event in the United States, including visa and immigration issues, political tensions, and concerns over how teams, officials, and supporters are being treated.
Ian Wright said the situation was “the worst it has been” when it comes to the clash between football and politics. He argued that FIFA has failed to understand “the spirit of the game” and said the current circumstances are far removed from what football should represent. Wright also pushed back against the idea that politics can simply be kept out of sport, suggesting the scale of the problems has made that impossible.
Roy Keane echoed the concern, saying that while he and Wright were there to discuss football, they should not ignore the difficulties facing officials, supporters, and teams. He said pundits should not “shy away” from the issues happening around the tournament, though he also expressed hope that the football itself would eventually take centre stage once the competition got underway.
The criticism follows a series of incidents that have placed FIFA under growing pressure. Among the most notable was the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was reportedly denied a visa to enter the United States. Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals, but he was turned away at Miami International Airport. The episode has fuelled questions about how the tournament is being managed and whether travel restrictions are interfering with football operations.
Iran’s national team has also been affected by the political tensions surrounding the event. Reports say the squad moved its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, after claiming US authorities were unwilling to accommodate their preparations. Under the team’s travel plan, Iran’s players are expected to enter and leave the United States on matchdays for each of their three group-stage matches. Iranian officials have further alleged that visas were refused for 15 members of the team’s support staff, adding to the disruption.
The situation has increased scrutiny of FIFA’s leadership and of the United States’ immigration policies, particularly in relation to a tournament that is meant to bring together teams and fans from around the world. Supporters travelling to the competition have also faced concerns about entering the country because of immigration restrictions and broader foreign policy issues.
Keane and Wright’s remarks highlighted how football’s biggest stage can be overshadowed by political and logistical problems. Their intervention reflected frustration that the tournament’s off-field controversies are threatening to dominate headlines, even before the football itself has had the chance to settle in.
