ESPN reports that a U.S. official has said Somali football referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States due to alleged “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
Artan had been set to travel to the U.S. ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations, where he was expected to officiate matches as part of FIFA’s selected referees. However, he was stopped at Miami International Airport and refused admission after what authorities described as “vetting concerns.”
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the decision was made under visa security procedures, although no detailed evidence was publicly released. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, later claimed the denial was linked to suspected terror-related associations.
The case has drawn attention because Artan had already been issued a valid visa before his travel. He was reportedly detained for several hours at the airport, questioned extensively about his background, Somali politics, and extremist groups operating in the region, before being returned on a flight to Istanbul.
Artan has denied any wrongdoing and said he was not given a clear reason for the denial. He insisted he had proper documentation and support from football authorities.
FIFA later confirmed it was not involved in the immigration decision but was informed that Artan’s participation status could not be changed at the time.
The incident has sparked concern within the football community, especially as Artan was expected to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup. Officials in Somalia have said they are working diplomatically to resolve the matter.
After returning to Somalia, Artan was welcomed in Mogadishu by fans and officials, where he expressed disappointment but vowed to aim for future World Cup participation, encouraging Somali youth to remain hopeful.
.jpeg)
.jpeg "Sunayen kofofin aljanna guda takwas 8")
0 Comment about the Post: