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Former FIFA leader Sepp Blatter on Monday expressed support for a suggested fan protest against World Cup games in the United States, citing the behavior of President Donald Trump and his government both domestically and internationally.

Blatter was the most recent global soccer official to cast doubt on the United States’ ability to host effectively. He advocated for a boycott in a message on X, endorsing remarks made by Mark Pieth during an interview with the Swiss publication Der Bund last week.

Pieth, a Swiss lawyer who focuses on white-collar crimes and is an expert in combating corruption, led the Independent Governance Committee’s monitoring of FIFA’s reforms ten years ago. Blatter served as the head of the global soccer governing organization from 1998 to 2015; he stepped down during an inquiry into corrupt practices.

In an interview with Der Bund, Pieth stated, “If we take into account everything we’ve talked about, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: Avoid the USA! You’ll get a better view on television. And once they arrive, fans should be prepared that if they don’t satisfy the officials, they could be sent back on the next flight. If they’re fortunate.”

In his post on X, Blatter referenced Pietha and stated, “I believe Mark Pieth is correct in questioning this World Cup.”

The United States is jointly hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.

The global soccer community’s worries regarding the United States arise from Trump’s expansive approach towards Greenland, restrictions on travel, and tough methods in handling migrants and immigration activists in American cities, especially Minneapolis.

Oke Göttlich, a vice president of the German Football Association, stated in an interview with the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper on Friday that it is now time to seriously contemplate boycotting the World Cup.

Two weeks prior, the travel arrangements of supporters from two of Africa’s leading soccer nations faced significant disruption after the Trump administration introduced a restriction that would essentially prevent individuals from Senegal and Ivory Coast from accompanying their teams unless they already hold visas. Trump stated that “screening and vetting shortcomings” were the primary justification for the suspensions.

Supporters from Iran and Haiti, two additional nations that have secured spots in the World Cup, will also be prohibited from entering the United States; they were part of the initial version of the travel restriction introduced by the Trump administration.