Iraq World Cup striker Hussein questioned for hours at Chicago airport

Iraq's World Cup striker, Aymen Hussein, was held and
questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare airport after arriving
with the squad early yesterday (6 June), an Iraqi sporting official said.
Hussein was finally allowed in, but
the team's photographer was barred from entering the United States, said the
official who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee, but has close contacts
with the team.
There was no immediate comment
from the Iraqi Football Association, or from Hussein, a talismanic figure who
scored the goal that secured the team's qualification for the finals.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Homeland
Security Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on
the reported questioning that was also covered by Iraqi media.
Fans came out to greet the Iraq
squad at the airport, holding flags and asking players to pose for pictures
less than a week before the start of the tournament, video on social media
showed.
Hussein's phone was inspected after
he arrived, the Iraqi official said.
"National team photographer
Talal Salah was held for more than 10 hours, underwent similar phone checks,
and was ultimately denied entry into the United States," the official
added.
Iraq are returning to the World
Cup for the first time since making their debut 40 years ago.
Hussein, 30, leads a potent
frontline 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, being co-hosted by
the US, Canada and Mexico, gets underway on Thursday.
















