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Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, has been denied entry to the United States.
Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football men’s referee of the year, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.
No reason for Artan’s repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Artan is 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 12 to July 19.
Somali officials called for the football community to rally in support of Artan. “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” said Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, in a statement first shared with Agence France-Presse.
“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.”
An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and has officiated at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
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