Criticism hails after World Cup move: – Directly shameful
Saken oppsummert
- The use of the US border police CBP and the immigration police ICE during the Club World Cup by the US authorities has created strong reactions. NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt criticizes the use of football stadiums as an arena to capture illegal immigrants. US expert Eirik Løkke believes President Trump is using it as a symbolic political move to highlight strict immigration policies. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warns against using the championship for immigration actions. FIFA President Gianni Infantino defends the measure as a safety measure for spectators.
The summary is created by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by NRK’s journalists before publication.
The summary is created by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality-assured by NRK’s journalists before publication.
– If they use a football stadium to weed out illegal immigrants, it is downright shameful. It shows once again how inedible the whole World Cup concept has become. This is not a football party, as it should be.
This is what NRK’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt says about the move by the American authorities.
The Club World Cup is already well underway, with superstars like Lionel Messi, Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappé vying for victory in what has become a contentious tournament.
Next year, the same arenas will be filled with national team stars – perhaps with the Norwegian national team on one half of the field.
The Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have received a lot of attention since Donald Trump was re-elected as US President. Their arrests and deportations have created strong reactions, including in Los Angeles, where there have been massive demonstrations for several days.
Border Policeimmigration police
ON PLACE: Here the border police patrolled before Inter Miami met Al-Ahly in the opening match of the Club World Cup.
CBP has confirmed on social media that they will be present during the championship.
– The countdown is on. CBP officers and agents are gearing up for the Club World Cup. Together with local and federal partners, we are working together to ensure the tournament is safe for players, fans, and the people of the cities where the games will take place, GBP wrote on X in April.
In another X-melding they write that they will play “a big role” in ensuring the safety of spectators.
– They are creating an environment where people are less likely to come to the games due to sheer intimidation, Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition told NBC recently.
– «America first» blir «America last»
Saltvedt believes the border police show why many have been critical of the tournament both before and during the tournament.
– It’s absurd. It illustrates something that is fundamentally wrong with this tournament – and there is a lot that is wrong. This is politicization of sport on a whole new level. It should not happen, says Saltvedt.
US expert and advisor at the think tank Civita, Eirik Løkke, believes the use of border police is a conscious choice by the Trump administration.
– It’s mostly symbolic politics. I think he wants to make a mark, show that he has a strict immigration policy and that no one should get away with it, Løkke tells NRK.
USA EXPERT: Eirik Løkke, advisor at Civita.
He believes that the US president’s line in no way gives the United States a good image before the World Cup for national teams takes place in a year’s time.
– If you see how much Trump is damaging America’s standing, it’s a disaster. “America first” is becoming “America last,” says Løkke.
The US expert points out that the country has had major problems with illegal immigration, but that the way it is handled is damaging the country’s image.
– I believe Trump’s policies are destroying America’s appeal. It is a form of hegemonic suicide, says Løkke.
WORLD CUP STARS: Lionel Messi is among the players who are part of the World Cup circus in the United States.
Juventus visit
The American president has shown his face in connection with the championship several times. He recently welcomed Juventus players to the White House. There, he spent much of the session talking about Iran, a little about immigration and a little about the trans debate.
The Juventus fans stood silently behind him, listening to the controversial president.
ON VISIT: Here the Juventus stars stand and listen to Donald Trump answer questions from a number of journalists.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has warned against using the World Cup as an opportunity to expel illegal immigrants.
– We do not believe there will be any (immigration) actions during any football games … we urge ICE not to intervene, Sheinbaum said recently, according to Reuters.
Kennedy believes the presence of ICE and CBP sends a signal to spectators during the championship.
– The message from CBP is a bit cryptic. It almost suggests that people should have their papers in order to go to the game, he believes.
Not the first time
However, it is not entirely uncommon for CBP to operate at sporting events, according to The Guardian. The newspaper writes that they were also present during the Super Bowl with similar missions.
Yet, US authorities explain that anyone who is not a US citizen must bring proof of their legal status.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also pointed out that the move is intended for the safety of spectators.
– I have no concerns in that sense. We are very attentive to all security issues. The most important thing for us is to guarantee the safety of all fans who come to the games – that is our highest priority, Infantino tells NBC.
It is far from certain that this will be the last time that American border police will be in the spotlight during the championship. Six World Cup matches will be played in Pasadena, just outside Los Angeles. There has been trouble there in the past.
