Artan, the British referee at the centre of a bitter Fifa World Cup dispute, has fired a warning shot from Qatar. 'I have the right papers and visa,' he said, hours after allegations surfaced questioning his eligibility to officiate. The comments, delivered through a terse statement, have sent tremors through the tournament's backrooms.
Sources close to the referee claim a 'dirty tricks' campaign is behind the row. 'This is about power, not paperwork,' one insider confided. The Football Association is now preparing for a late-night legal battle, despite attempts by tournament officials to play down the incident.
The row threatens to overshadow the next round of matches. Artan remains defiant. His fate now rests in the hands of Fifa's disciplinary committee.
Watch this space.
