13 Countries Participating in the World Cup Criticize UEFA President's Remarks

MOGADISHU – A group of 13 countries participating in the FIFA World Cup has issued a joint statement condemning remarks made by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who described the large number of tournament matches as 'uninteresting'.

Čeferin has recently had disagreements with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, particularly regarding the format and expansion of international football tournaments.

The tension between the two sides has escalated after UEFA appointed Somali international referee Omar Abdulqadir Cartan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, shortly after he was denied entry into the United States to participate as a referee in the World Cup.

The countries that issued the joint statement expressed their disappointment with the UEFA President's remarks, emphasizing that the World Cup is a platform that unites nations and promotes the development of football worldwide.

The countries that signed the statement include Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa.

The statement highlights how the remarks of leaders of global football organizations can sometimes lead to disputes and reactions from member countries, as the competition between FIFA and UEFA over the governance and future of international football tournaments intensifies.