US denies entry to Somali referee Omar Artan: Here’s why

Omar Artan who was all set to make history as the first Somali referee at the World Cup finals, has been officially removed from the list of officials after being denied entry to the United States.

The 34-year-old was prohibited from entering the country at Miami International Airport. While the US immigration authorities have not released the specific reason for Artan’s repatriation, Somalia is one of nearly 40 nations on the travel ban list introduced by the Trump’s administration.

FIFA said that Artan will miss the tournament following a decision by US authorities to deny him entry over vetting concerns.

“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,” read 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.”

A senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports reportedly confirmed he was denied entry despite traveling with valid documents.

As reported by the BBC, Somali embassy officials in Nairobi stated that Artan’s diplomatic passport has been issued particularly to facilitate his travel following visa restrictions delays.

Artan stated that despite the circumstances he remains focused on future challenges.

I would like to thank Fifa and Caf for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future," he said.

“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup, and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions,” he added.

For those unversed, the World Cup will run from 11 June to 19 July. It is pertinent to mention that Artan achieved elite professional status finding 2018 success in his career both nationally and internationally and has since officiated matches at the Africa Cup of Nation.