Somali referee ruled out of FIFA World Cup

Somali referee Omar Artan will not officiate at the FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.

The decision came after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) refused entry to a Somali national who arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. While CBP did not identify the individual, Artan is the only referee from Somalia appointed for the tournament.

FIFA later confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in training and officiating duties at the World Cup and released a statement from the referee.

“Despite the circumstances, I remain positive and focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said. He thanked FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their support and wished his fellow officials success in the tournament.

In a separate statement, FIFA said it had no role in immigration decisions and had been informed by authorities that Artan’s status would not be changed.

“As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into the country,” the governing body said.

Explaining the decision, CBP said the traveler underwent additional screening upon arrival, which is part of routine inspection procedures when officers need to verify information or assess admissibility.

“Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry,” the agency said.

CBP noted that all travelers seeking entry into the United States, including athletes, coaches and sports officials, are subject to inspection and security vetting.

The agency added that admissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis using available law enforcement, immigration and national security information, and that CBP officers have the authority to question travelers and determine their eligibility for entry under U.S. law.