Both the CDU and SPD are calling on the US government to provide a clearer justification for the denial of entry to Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan.
Stephan Mayer, the political spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group, told the German news network “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that US authorities would be wise to explain their decision in more detail. He noted that offering clarification could address the understandable questions the action has raised among the public. While expressing surprise at the decision to block Artan’s entry, Mayer conceded that if there were concrete grounds suggesting a threat to US internal security, the refusal could be comprehensible.
Adis Ahmetovic, the external affairs spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, also pressed for a better explanation. He stated to newspapers that it was extremely frustrating to prevent a formally nominated World Cup referee from entering the country without a clear reason. Although he acknowledged the fundamental sovereignty of any given nation regarding entry decisions, Ahmetovic stressed that the US government should explain what motivated their choice.
