00:13Welcome to Beyond the Game, the ball stays pure. We begin today's segment with Somali referee Omar
00:19Artan who received a hero's welcome upon arriving at Mogadishu's Adenade International Airport on
00:25Wednesday. He was greeted on the runway by the senior government officials and welcomed outside
00:29the airport by hundreds of supporters. Africa's reigning top referee was turned back at Miami
00:35International Airport and flown to Istanbul despite traveling on a valid visa and the State
00:41Department's own rules exempting participants in mayor sporting events from the travel ban.
00:46Border officers instead deemed him inadmissible citing unspecified vetting concerns. Artan would
00:52have become the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup and one of seven from Africa. Trump's
00:59anti-immigrant policies had worried many from the outset. The decision has also drawn criticism
01:05from prominent figures in international sport and politics. Ian Wright, the former Arsenal
01:11and England striker lamented what he described as the growing impact of travel restrictions
01:16in the tournament. The world needs the skills of Omar Artan. His outstanding abilities cannot
01:28be stopped because of a country's entry they need. And this is not the last World Cup. We hope he
01:36will
01:36become the best referee in the world as he is now the best referee in Africa.
01:44We should strive for all country and defend it. We should never be disappointed. Young people should
01:49not lose hope. I'm still ready to continue my journey despite these difficulties. I love my country and I encourage
01:57young people to continue pursuing their goals. Allah willing. Thank you.
02:05The Brazil national football team held an open training session in Morristown ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
02:12Goalkeepers Waverton and Alison Becker practiced shot stopping while the rest of the squad performed warm-ups.
02:19On May 18th, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti announced the squad including injury-plagued superstar Neymar Jr.
02:24in the official 26-man squad for the World Cup. Despite his injury woes, Ancelotti has made it clear
02:31that the Santos forward will not be excluded under any circumstances. However, he added that if Neymar is
02:37not fit for the opening match, the team will be patient and aim to have him return for the second
02:42group stage fixture. Brazil is the most successful nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup with five
02:48titles. However, their last victory came in 2002 and they are desperate to end the 24-year drought.
03:02Well, in football the score is measured in goals but at the 2026 World Cup the numbers that may matter
03:08most are counted in billions of dollars as FIFA prepares for the biggest tournament in its history.
03:13Questions are growing about where the money is coming from, where it goes and who really benefits from the
03:18world.
03:19It's a beautiful sport.
03:20In
03:21.
03:21.
03:21.
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