Somali referee axed from World Cup after being denied entry to US
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Outcome reported
- Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States and subsequently dropped from officiating the World Cup.
- FIFA stated it is not involved in host country immigration processes and cannot influence the US decision.
- US Customs and Border Protection cited
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan will not officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday and was refused entry following a routine inspection, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed Artan's exclusion, stating the organization is powerless to influence the decision made by the tournament's co-host. "FIFA 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," the spokesperson told AFP.
FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.
Artan was set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals. A government advisor in Mogadishu expressed dismay, stating that denying Artan entry harms him personally and undermines football's commitment to fairness and merit. The advisor also claimed Artan possessed a valid visa for the US.
FIFA 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.
US Customs and Border Protection stated that during inspection, Artan was determined to be inadmissible due to "vetting concerns." Somalia is among several countries previously subject to travel bans under the Trump administration's immigration policies. FIFA emphasized that a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into their country.
In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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