New York, June 9 (IANS) Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan due to officiate in the FIFA World Cup has been denied entry to the United States, according to an official from his country’s sports ministry.
Artan was among the 52 referees announced by Fifa to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which runs from June 11 to July 19. He was set to be the first Somali referee to take charge of a game at the World Cup.
An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
He is reported to have had a valid entry visa, but according to Cisse Aden Abshir, an advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, he was denied entry by U.S. immigration officials from entering at Miami International Airport and has had to fly back to Istanbul, where he had been staying, reports Xinhua.
“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir said.
“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,” he added.
Omar Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on a flight from Istanbul on Saturday but was barred from entering the country following a “routine” inspection.
According to The Athletic, CBP in its statement stated,”Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.
“All travellers seeking entry into the United States, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to CBP inspection and vetting. Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection. CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not give a specific reason for denying entry to Artan but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Later FIFA confirmed that Artan will miss the tournament. “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,” it said in a statement.
“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.
“In line with previous Fifa events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
