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Simon Jordan Defends the US Decision to Ban World Cup Referee

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Simon Jordan’s reaction to referee Omar Artan being denied entry into the United States to officiate the 2026 World Cup has caused huge backlash.

Artan was set to be the first-ever Somali referee in the competition’s history. However, he ‘was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry’ by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is currently in Turkey.

Somalia is one of the nations on President Donald Trump’s travel ban list, but an official reason for Artan’s admission being blocked has not yet been provided. FIFA released a statement confirming that the decision would not be overturned, and Artan would indeed be banned from officiating.

Simon Jordan Reacts to Controversial World Cup Decision

Barred 2026 World Cup Referee Omar Artan Speaks Out as FIFA Issue Statement

Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday morning, notoriously outspoken former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan gave his view on the controversies surrounding the World Cup.

First, he was asked if he thinks the competition in general feels like ‘a mess’. To which he replied: “Not particularly. It feels like football is becoming a very expensive business and it’s no surprise that the FIFA World Cup is an expensive proposition.

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“It’s an opportunity to generate huge amounts of money, hopefully for the best reasons, which is for the infrastructure of sport around the world.”

Jordan then turned his attention to the news that Artan hadn’t been allowed in the country. He was told by the show’s presenter that the referee hadn’t met vetting requirements, prompting Jordan to say:

“I do not know and at this moment I’m not sure we know the reason why this referee wasn’t allowed in the country. If he didn’t meet the visa requirements, that’s not a mess; that’s an issue from his side and the people who represent him.”

To add to the controversy in the days leading up to the World Cup kicking off, Iran have claimed the United States have revoked their ticket allocation. Jordan had a strong opinion on that matter:

“The US is at war with Iran. It’s hardly a surprise that you are not going to particularly want Iranian supporters coming into the country despite the proclamation that Infantino was orchestrating and illustrating that we want it to be the most inclusive World Cup it could possibly be.

“There are exceptions. If you don’t meet your visa requirements and if you’re at war with a country, those are possibly reasonable exceptions. You’ve now got a World Cup which is 48 teams rather than 32 so already you’re making it more accessible.”

fifa world cup

A significant issue with his words was that Artan did, in fact, have a valid visa to enter the country. That was pointed out by one disgruntled supporter, who posted a strong response on X, saying:

“Just to remind you, Simon Jordan’s weak excuse on why the FIFA-certified Somali referee, who was voted the best referee in Africa, was denied entry is so pathetic. This referee had the right paperwork. He was denied entry due to racism.”

Some believe Jordan’s opinion to be ‘disingenuous’ as he didn’t have the full facts before presenting his opinion. It’s obviously a political decision. He had a diplomatic visa. Trump is having issues with the Somali especially a certain Somali congresswoman. Then to have an opinion after admitting you don’t know why he was rejected is being disingenuous,” one X user said.


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He was even accused of ‘showing how out of touch he is with football fans around the world’. Another claimed to be ‘disappointed’ by the opinion the ex-Premier League owner holds: “Simon Jordan yet again being deliberately simplistic when it concerns a matter he doesn’t really care for. Disappointing but predictable.”

Jordan’s position had it been an English referee involved, has also been questioned: “I wonder what his reaction would have been had Qatar barred an English official or even their fans from attending the last World Cup for their known drunk behaviour.”



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Unai Emery Wants Aston Villa to Sign Morgan Gibbs-White

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Aston Villa are eyeing up a move for one of the Premier League’s best players this summer to strengthen their squad for the Champions League, according to Sports Boom.

The Villans secured a spot in the top club competition on the continent by winning the Europa League, ending a 30-year trophy drought, while they also finished fourth in the Premier League.

Unai Emery is now looking to refresh his squad with options to make the team competitive once again, and a move for a top forward has been eyed as a top priority heading into the summer transfer window.

Aston Villa Eyeing Gibbs-White Deal

Morgan Gibbs-White

According to a report, Aston Villa have made a move to sign Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White their top priority in this window.

Gibbs-White enjoyed a spectacular campaign in 2025/26, netting 18 goals and registering seven assists in all competitions as the team avoided relegation and reached the Europa League semi-finals, losing to Villa. But as he enters the final two years of his contract, the 26-year-old is now attracting major interest.

Emery is understood to be very keen on bringing in a profile like Gibbs-White to his squad this summer, and views the transfer as a priority as he looks to ensure the squad can compete on all fronts.

Forest don’t want to lose their star man but are aware of his desire to play in the Champions League, and his contract situation means that they may be forced to sell in order to retain his value.

Last year the club fought back against a release clause and handed him a new contract, which removed the clause, meaning they can now demand whatever fee they like for the influential playmaker.

England World Cup Quiz

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Gibbs-White to Replace Rogers?

Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White

While Villa are keen to strengthen their squad, they are facing major interest in key man Morgan Rogers, and part of their thought process for this deal may well be replacing him.

Stylistically, both players are very similar. They like to play in the pockets between midfield and attack, have a great ability to carry the ball and beat a man, while they also have an excellent eye for goal and a pass. Gibbs-White was highly unfortunate to miss out on a place at the World Cup, such is his quality.

They could easily play together, with both players capable of filling in on the left if necessary. Emery is likely envisioning that likelihood within his planning, but the fact he could also be a replacement for Rogers would make it an even more perfect siging for the club.


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Arsenal Make Decision On Tino Livramento Transfer Deal

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As the transfer market starts to heat up, Arsenal have been told that it will take a world-record transfer bid to land one of their targets for the summer window, according to TeamTalk.

The Gunners are looking to bolster their ranks after a successful campaign, which saw the side finally land the Premier League trophy after 22-years of waiting.

The plan is to keep moving from strength to strength, landing more titles and trophies to cement a place at the very top in England and in Europe.

While Mikel Arteta may be looking to add some options to the Arsenal forward line, there are also links with a few defenders who could move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Tino Livramento To Arsenal Transfer

Tino Livramento in action for Newcastle United

A potential area for improvement at Arsenal could come at right-back, as injuries have complicated the campaign for both Jurrien Timber and Ben White, which has forced Cristhian Mosquera to fill in at an unorthodox position.

Several links have emerged, including interest in Newcastle star Tino Livramento, as TeamTalk reports that the defender is a target for the Gunners.

However, even though the North London club remain huge admirers of the star, along with rivals Manchester City, there is a stumbling block in proceedings.

That comes from the valuation that Newcastle have set for the 23-year-old, as the North-East outfit have discussed figures that would smash the world-record fee for a right-back, which was Achraf Hakimi’s move to PSG for £58 million back in 2021.

It sets a clear barometer for both Arsenal and Man City to judge any figures for a deal on, outlining whether a deal would have value to the side or not.

Both sides have key decisions to make before any sort of offer can be made, but doubts remain over the valuation set on the defender for this summer.

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Livramento Transfer Doubts

Tino Livramento during a training session with England

Any move for Livramento is likely to come at a price, even if his current contract with Newcastle only has two years remaining on it, meaning that there has to be a balance in finding the right deal for the player.

The right-back is clearly a quality player, who has been described as “phenomenal” for his performances in the Premier League in recent seasons.

Those displays, combined with his age profile, certainly suggests he could get even better, but the issues surrounding his fitness may be of greater concern to teams.

The 23-year-old has suffered from four separate injuries over the 2025/26 campaign, which included problems with his knee, hamstring, and thighs.


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That has seen the star miss over 30 games in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, a large chunk of time that is tough to replace in the team.

Given the injury issues Arsenal have already faced with White and Timber, perhaps an expensive deal to sign Livramento with his injury history may be a risky move.

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Man Utd, Liverpool And Tottenham Learn Alex Scott Price

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Bournemouth do not intend to sell any of their prized assets this summer, having seen head coach Andoni Iraola and defender Marcos Senesi leave the club at the end of their contracts on the south coast.

The Cherries qualified for European competition for the first time in the club’s history this season, finishing sixth in the Premier League thanks to ending the season 18 games unbeaten to make it into the UEFA Europa League.

At the heart of that were a number of impressive young players – Eli Junior Kroupi, Rayan, Alex Scott, Adrien Truffert chief among them.

Midfielder Scott has garnered a lot of interest from other Premier League teams already this summer, despite the transfer window not yet being open.

Scott played a massive role for Bournemouth this season

England's Alex Scott smiles in a press conference
World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – England Press Conference – Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre, London, Britain – November 11, 2025 England’s Alex Scott during the press conference Pool via REUTERS/Bradley Collyer

The 22-year-old enjoyed a fine campaign at the Vitality Stadium, scoring three goals and assisting one from central midfield. He was trusted by Iraola, starting 34 of the Cherries’ 38 Premier League matches, only missing the final game of the season after not being named in the squad.

Scott, who former Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson said was “destined for the elite”, has only two years left on his current contract at Bournemouth, with Cherries officials keen to tie him down to a longer-term deal. However, they will face a battle to keep hold of him, with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all linked with making a move to sign him this summer.

United are in the market for at least two new central midfielders this summer, with Ederson expected to be the first through the door from Atalanta. Liverpool and Spurs may also move for midfield options as the summer goes on, too.

And all three clubs have been told how much it will cost to sign the midfielder this summer, if he does not put pen-to-paper on a new contract at the club.

Scott has a big price tag on his shoulders

Alex Scott
Alex Scott

GIVEMESPORT understands that Bournemouth value the player at around £80million.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is intent on keeping Scott with the hope that he will sign a new contract, likely with a release clause. This was the case when Antoine Semenyo extended last summer.

Roy Keane has been impressed by the midfielder, saying earlier this season: “I’ve watched him a few times and he’s an exciting player. He looks very comfortable on the ball, possesses real quality, and you can see why there’s a lot of interest in him. He doesn’t look fazed by the occasion at all.”


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