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US Denies Entry to Somali World Cup Referee Over Terror Links
🇨🇿 Czech Republic /Sports

US Denies Entry to Somali World Cup Referee Over Terror Links

From iDNES · () Czech

Translated from Czech, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Somali referee Omar Artan, selected for the World Cup, was denied entry into the United States.
  • U.S. officials cited security concerns and alleged ties to a terrorist organization as reasons for the denial.
  • Artan expressed deep disappointment, stating he is just a referee pursuing his dream, and the decision impacts his ability to officiate at the World Cup.

The U.S. government has denied entry to Omar Artan, a Somali referee selected for the upcoming World Cup, citing security concerns related to alleged connections with a terrorist organization. A U.S. government representative, speaking anonymously to CNN, stated that Artan's screening at Miami airport revealed "ties to suspected members of terrorist organizations," without providing further specifics.

ties to suspected members of terrorist organizations

— Unnamed U.S. government representativeReason provided for denying entry to Omar Artan.

Artan was refused entry into Miami on Saturday. He told The New York Times that U.S. border officials questioned him about his travel and the political situation in Somalia, particularly concerning the Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Artan described his "great, great disappointment," emphasizing his identity as solely a referee striving to fulfill his lifelong dream of participating in the World Cup. He asserted that he possessed all the correct documents and visa, and had made no formal errors.

The Somali government has engaged with U.S. authorities and FIFA, but a resolution has not yet been reached. Al-Shabaab is active in parts of Somalia and has been fighting the government for years. Somalia is among the 39 countries whose citizens face heightened entry scrutiny under the revised U.S. immigration policies implemented by President Donald Trump.

I am just a referee, trying to fulfill the biggest dream of my life by participating in the World Cup.

— Omar ArtanArtan's statement on his disappointment and identity after being denied entry.

Artan's inability to attend the World Cup referee preparation in Miami now makes his participation in the tournament, which will also involve host countries Mexico and Canada, impossible. He was set to be the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup and had been selected by the Confederation of African Football as one of seven African referees. Artan was recognized as Africa's best male referee in 2025.

The host country has the ultimate right to decide on visa issuance.

— FIFAStatement regarding FIFA's stance on host country immigration policies.

FIFA has stated that it is not involved in the host country's immigration procedures, asserting that the host nation holds the ultimate authority over visa decisions, as in previous tournaments. The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports criticized the U.S. authorities' decision, issuing a statement that Artan was denied entry "without a valid reason."

Artan was denied entry into the USA without a valid reason.

— Somali Ministry of Youth and SportsCriticism of the U.S. authorities' decision to deny Artan entry.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by iDNES in Czech. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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