Somali referee Omar Artan barred from US, misses World Cup opportunity
Somali referee Omar Artan has voiced his disappointment after being denied entry into the United States, ending his dream of officiating at the FIFA World Cup finals. Artan was removed from FIFA’s list of match officials for the 2026 World Cup after being stopped by immigration authorities at Miami International Airport and sent back to Turkey. He described undergoing an 11-hour immigration interview and spending several hours in a holding cell before being repatriated. The decision has sparked debate about travel and visa issues for the tournament.
Match highlights
- Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States despite having valid travel documents and a diplomatic passport.
- He underwent an extensive immigration interview lasting about 11 hours and was later held in a cell before being sent back to Istanbul.
- FIFA confirmed that Artan will not officiate at the 2026 World Cup after US authorities refused him entry.
- No official reason was provided by US immigration, but Artan suggested his Somali nationality may have influenced the decision.
- The incident has raised concerns over travel restrictions and visa issues for officials at the World Cup.
