Africa’s best referee denied entry to US for World Cup
Africa’s best referee, Omar Artan, has been denied entry into the United States of America for the World Cup on Monday.
The 2025 African referee of the year at the CAF awards was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.
According to Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports, Artan had a valid visa to enter the U.S. but was turned away and has flown back to Istanbul.
He 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.
“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community.”
As at the time of filing this report, the US immigration authorities are yet to release a statement on the reasons behind the decision to deny him entry.
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It would be recalled that Trump placed a travel ban on Somalia and the likes of Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and individuals with Palestinian Authority in January.
The Somali Embassy in Nairobi confirmed on Friday that it had facilitated the referee’s travel using a diplomatic passport.
Artan is an official referee in the Somalia first division league and member of FIFA listed referees as well.
He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018 He made history in January 2024 as the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, overseeing the Group E match between Tunisia and Namibia.
He was on course to become the first Somalian to officiate at the World Cup finals.
