Somalian World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been refused entry to the USA, AFP reports.
The newswire confirmed earlier claims about the incident, saying it took place at Miami airport with the reasons unclear.
Artan was also detained despite having a valid visa. Somalia is one of the countries that the US currently has entry bans imposed on.
In a statement, the Somalia government responded to the news, calling the acts of the immigration authorities ‘deplorable’.
Somalia and Artan respond
The Ministry of Youth and Sports said that, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is undertaking: “Diplomatic efforts and speaking with the relevant US authorities and FIFA to obtain a clear explanation on this matter.
“It is regrettable that such treatment apparently occurred, and the Ministry is closely monitoring the situation.
“Artan has represented his country, his profession, and Somali sport with distinction.
“His participation at the international level is a source of pride and honour for all Somalis and reflects the progress and positive advances that Somali athletes and sports officials are achieving on the world stage.”
Artan responded to the government’s efforts with a statement of his own, saying: “I express my gratitude to the football family for their messages and wished my colleagues great success at the World Cup.
“Despite the circumstances, I maintain a positive attitude and am focused on the upcoming challenges in my refereeing career.
“I want to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I am committed to maintaining my refereeing standards while concentrating on the future.”
US statement on referee ban
On the other side of the matter, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave a statement.
They said the: “Somali referee was deemed inadmissible due to issues in the background check process and was denied entry.”
Artan would’ve been the first to represent Somalia at the tournament, having become a FIFA referee in 2018.
He first officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, and last year was named Referee of the Year by the African Football Federation.
Artan was one of 52 referees appointed by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup and they will now have to find a replacement.
Artan gives interview
Artan has since spoken to the New York Times, saying: “I’m simply a referee trying to live my dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.
“I had all my papers in order, yet I was interrogated for hours, thrown into prison, and then expelled. I think they have a problem with my country.
“They asked me several times if I had ever met representatives of Al Shabab. I explained to them that I knew nothing about this military group, that I was only in the United States to do my job as a referee.”
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