UN's Baerbock renews criticism of FIFA over World Cup entry issues

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock has renewed her criticism of world football governing body FIFA over denied entries at the World Cup.

Speaking at an event at the German House of Soccer in New York on Wednesday, the former German foreign minister said sport lived from bringing people together.

Baerbock said entry and visa issues were therefore not a minor matter, as people could only come together and celebrate football if they were able to do so everywhere. FIFA would have to review the issue during and after the World Cup, she added.

US entry rules have become a major issue around the tournament, with several nations affected.

Baerbock had earlier criticized FIFA’s cautious response in a podcast, particularly in the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was not allowed to enter the country.

Baerbock said sport, and football in particular, opened doors in a divided world.

She said sport connected people also because everyone knew they had to follow the rules. If the world were a little more like a football pitch, where even the biggest superstar had to follow the rules, it would be more peaceful, she said.

Baerbock visited the fan gathering in New York to attend an award ceremony for former Germany great and 2014 World Cup winner Thomas Müller.

The former Bayern Munich star now plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada and is working as a pundit for German television during the World Cup.