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FIFA confirms that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not participate in this year's World Cup after US authorities denied him entry into the country...
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named the best African referee for 2025, will not take part in this year's World Cup after United States authorities banned him from entering the country, FIFA confirmed.
According to a spokesperson for the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Service, who spoke to CNN, Artan underwent additional screening upon arrival in Miami on a flight from Istanbul.
"During the screening process, the traveler was subjected to an additional inspection, a common procedure when authorities need to verify information or determine eligibility for entry. Upon completion of the screening, the FIFA World Cup referee was deemed ineligible for entry due to concerns raised during the screening and was denied entry into the country," the CBP representative stated.
Somalia is one of 39 countries affected by travel restrictions imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump. US authorities did not provide further details on the reasons for the denial, but citizens of the countries included in these measures are subject to stricter checks.
Artan was selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take part in the world tournament after being rated as the best African referee in the men's category. In a statement, FIFA stressed that it has no role in the host country's immigration procedures.
"FIFA is not involved in immigration processes, including the issuance of visas, and has been informed by the competent authorities that Mr. Artan's status is not expected to change at this time. As with previous FIFA tournaments, the final decision on visa issuance and entry into the country rests with the host country government," the organization stated.
Artan's case follows similar difficulties reported by other countries, notably Iran, due to strict immigration policies.
Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said on Sunday that the Iranian national team received permission to enter the United States just a day before their tournament match, according to Iranian media. This has prompted criticism of unequal treatment.
Meanwhile, Iranian national team coach Amir Ghalenoei said that several federation officials, media representatives and an executive director have not yet received authorization to participate in the competition.
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