Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full FIFA World Cup remuneration despite being denied entry into the United States and missing the tournament, according to reports.
Artan was stopped by US immigration officials at Miami International Airport on Monday and questioned for 11 hours before being informed that he would not be allowed into the country. Authorities reportedly rejected his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa.
A US government official reportedly cited an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations” as the reason for the decision.
Artan said immigration officers questioned him about links to the Somali militant group Al Shabab, allegations he strongly denied.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” said Artan.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
After being returned to Turkey, Artan received support from FIFA officials in Istanbul before travelling back to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.
Although he will not officiate at the tournament, sources told BBC Sport that FIFA has committed to paying him the full fee allocated to referees selected for the World Cup.
Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football men’s Referee of the Year, has since been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.
The 34-year-old expressed gratitude to Somalis following his return home and vowed to pursue his ambition of officiating at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Artan enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2025, becoming the first Somali referee to oversee a continental final. He officiated the second leg of the CAF Champions League final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, and later handled three matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, including the third-place playoff.
He also officiated group-stage matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, building on his growing reputation as one of Africa’s leading referees.
