Sir Mo Farah escalates war of words against Donald Trump after calling Muslim travel ban 'crazy and unfair' and admits he is still concerned about returning to his family in the USA

  • Sir Mo Farah has no regrets speaking out against Donald Trump's travel ban
  • He is in Britain to race the 5,000 metres at Saturday's Birmingham Grand Prix
  • Farah fears difficulties may arise when he attempts to return to Portland, Oregon
  • He retains duel nationality with his country of birth Somalia and Great Britain 
  • The Olympic champion has had difficulties with US immigration officers before
  • Trump's travel ban left Farah worried he may face another interrogation

Sir Mo Farah has escalated his war of words against Donald Trump, calling the President's Muslim travel ban 'crazy and unfair' and admitting he is still concerned about how he will be treated when he returns to the USA, his adopted home.

Farah is in Britain for Saturday's Birmingham Grand Prix, which culminates in the men's 5,000 metres, the last indoor race of his career.

He then flies to Ethiopia to continue an annual training camp at altitude but fears difficulties may arise when he attempts to return to Portland, Oregon, where he lives with wife Tania and their four children.

Mo Farah has no regrets about getting involved in politics and speaking out against the US ban

Mo Farah has no regrets about getting involved in politics and speaking out against the US ban

The 33-year-old, a Muslim who was born in Somalia but moved to Britain aged eight, has had difficulties with overzealous US immigration officers before. 


In 2013, the double Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion was pulled aside at a US airport, and believed it was his full name — Mohamed — which aroused suspicions.

YORKE DENIED ENTRY

Dwight Yorke, the former Manchester United forward, was denied entry to the US by border officials on Friday apparently because he had an Iranian stamp in his passport, from playing in a Tehran charity match in 2015.

The club ambassador, travelling on private business, had planned to break a journey to his Trinidad and Tobago home from doing TV work in Qatar by stopping in Miami. 

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But Trump's travel ban raised the stakes and left Farah, who has lived in the US for six years, worried he may face another interrogation.

'It was crazy and unfair,' said Farah. 'That's why I spoke out. They have made changes for people like me but the hard part was going to a training camp and hearing the news I can't go back and see my kids. 

'That was scary and it was important for me to speak out as there are a lot of people who couldn't say anything.'

The executive order, banning entry to the USA to people from seven predominantly Muslim countries including Somalia, was blocked by the courts but Trump's commitment to pursue a revised version has worried Farah. 

Farah will run the last indoor race of his career in the Birmingham Grand Prix 5,000 metres

Farah will run the last indoor race of his career in the Birmingham Grand Prix 5,000 metres

'As an athlete you don't like to get involved in politics but sometimes when it affects you — it affected me and my family — you have to speak up,' he said. 

Farah sat beside American hurdler Aries Merritt during a press conference inside Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena. 

He nodded supportively as Merritt, the 110m hurdles world record holder, spoke of his shame at Trump's rise to power and controversial policy changes since taking office.

The four-time Olympic champion looked in high spirits as he prepared in Birmingham

The four-time Olympic champion looked in high spirits as he prepared in Birmingham

'I don't agree with what he has been doing,' said Merritt. 'The way his administration has been running is not normal. We have seen a lot of deceit, a lot of lies and it's not something that makes me proud to be an American.'

Farah was expected to face stiff competition in Birmingham from Andrew Butchart, who finished sixth over 5,000m at Rio 2016. But the Scot was a late injury withdrawal, meaning it is likely to be a race against the clock for Farah.

Another athlete expecting a time trial is 23-year-old Laura Muir, who is aiming for the British 1,000m indoor record, held by Dame Kelly Holmes who set the mark of 2:32.55 in 1997.

Aries Merritt (left) spoke of his shame at Trump’s rise to power and his policy changes

Aries Merritt (left) spoke of his shame at Trump's rise to power and his policy changes