U.S. bars Somali World Cup referee over terror ties
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- U.S. official said Omar Artan was refused entry because of “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
- Andrew Giuliani of the White House FIFA Task Force called the denial “very good reason” but declined to give details.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection held Artan at Miami International Airport for 11 hours, questioning him about Somali politics and al‑Shabab before sending him back to Istanbul.
- Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry announced its U.S. embassy is working to resolve the issue so Artan can officiate at the World Cup, which starts Thursday.
- FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration process and confirmed Artan’s “status will not be changed at present.”
- Omar Artan, named Africa’s best male referee in 2025, returned to Mogadishu where he was welcomed by officials and supporters and pledged to attend the next World Cup.
Why it matters: The ban prevents Omar Artan, Africa’s top referee, from the World Cup, stripping Somalia of a historic first and highlighting how U.S. security vetting can override FIFA‑approved appointments, even when a valid visa is in hand, and raises concerns about travel restrictions affecting African sports officials.
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