The Iraqi attacker World cup Aymen Hussein was detained and interrogated for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after arriving with the delegation early Saturday morning, an Iraqi sports official said.
Hussein was eventually released, but the team’s photographer was prevented from entering the premises. United Statessaid the official who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee but has close contacts with the national team.
There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi Federation of Soccer nor Hussein, an emblematic figure who scored the goal that guaranteed the team’s classification.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the reported interrogation, which was also covered by Iraqi media.
Fans went to the airport in the early hours of the morning to welcome the Iraqi team, holding flags and asking players to take photos, less than a week before the start of the tournament, videos on social media showed.
Hussein’s cellphone was inspected upon his arrival, the Iraqi official said.
“National team photographer Talal Salah was detained for more than 10 hours, underwent similar cell phone checks and was ultimately denied entry into the United States,” the official added.
THE Iraq is returning to the World Cup for the first time since its debut 40 years ago.
Hussein, 30, leads a potent attack that also features Ipswich Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi and talented youngsters Ali Jassim and Youssef Amyn.
Iraq face France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.
The tournament, which is being co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, begins on Thursday.
