Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has reportedly been denied entry into the United States, casting uncertainty over his participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup and sparking concern among football officials in Somalia.
Artan, who recently made history as the first Somali referee selected to officiate at the World Cup finals, was stopped at Miami International Airport despite holding a valid U.S. visa, according to Somali sports authorities.
A senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and former national team captain, Ciise Aden Abshir, described the decision as a setback for both the referee and the sport.
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“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir said.
The reason for the denial has not been officially disclosed. However, Somalia is among countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under the administration of Donald Trump.
Following the incident, Artan reportedly returned to Istanbul, where he had been based before travelling to the United States.
Abshir argued that preventing the referee from carrying out his duties undermines football’s values of fairness, merit and equal opportunity.
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Artan was named among the 52 match officials selected by FIFA for the June–July World Cup tournament being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Since becoming a FIFA-certified referee in 2018, Artan has built a strong reputation on the continent. He officiated at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and was named the Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
In April, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised Artan’s achievement, describing him as an inspiration to young Somalis and a symbol of professionalism and integrity.
The incident has raised questions about how travel restrictions could affect athletes, officials and sporting events involving international participants ahead of the World Cup.
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