A FIFA World Cup official, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has reportedly been denied entry into the United States at the border just days before the start of the tournament.
According to AFP, the experienced referee was turned back despite holding a valid U.S. visa and travelling on a diplomatic passport.
Artan has since returned to Istanbul, where he has been based in recent days.
“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, told AFP.
“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,” Abshir added.
Artan, born in Mogadishu, Somalia, in the early 1990s, was among the 52 centre referees selected by FIFA World Cup for this summer’s edition, following his rise as one of Africa’s most highly rated match officials.
Since becoming a FIFA-listed referee in 2018, he has officiated in Somalia’s national league and major continental and global competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, CAF Champions League, and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
He was also named 2025 African Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.
