America has denied entry to soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been anticipated to be the primary Somali to officiate at a match within the World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson mentioned Artan wouldn’t have the ability to practice or officiate on the World Cup — which kicks off on Thursday — after he was not allowed to enter the US over the weekend.
Somalia’s authorities mentioned it had unsuccessfully tried to barter with the US and FIFA in order that Artan may enter the nation and it was saddened by what had occurred.
“His worldwide achievements are a supply of honor and delight for the Somali individuals,” Somalia’s sports activities ministry mentioned in an announcement.
In a press launch issued on Tuesday, the Somali Soccer Federation (SFF) expressed disappointment over the scenario, calling Artan’s appointment a milestone for the nation that resulted from years of dedication, professionalism and integrity.
The SFF mentioned it has not acquired an official rationalization as to why Artan was denied entry to the US, including that it’s working intently with FIFA and the related authorities to grasp the circumstances of the scenario.
FIFA says not involved in immigration policies
A senior Somali official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts were continuing to try to get Artan into the US for the tournament, but declined to share further details.
A FIFA spokesperson said the organization “is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present”.
Artan said in a statement that despite the circumstances, he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
It was not clear which game or games Artan would have refereed, although such information is typically only announced two to three days in advance.
US policies raise concerns ahead of world cup
Without naming him, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement that a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
The agency did not elaborate on those concerns, but said the referee underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP said.
The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have been a point of concern ahead of the World Cup. Last year, Washington imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
Artan, who was named CAF’s Best Male Referee for 2025, had a valid visa, according to media reports.
