Somali referee to get World Cup salary after being refused entry to US
US accuse Somali referee denied entry for World Cup of links to ‘bad actors’
Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, with the administration citing his “links to ‘suspected members of terror organizations'” as the reason.
Despite being barred from entering the US, Fifa has committed to paying Artan his full tournament fee, ensuring he does not suffer financially from the decision.
Artan, who was named Africa’s referee of the year in 2025 and would have been the first Somali to officiate at the global showpiece, received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Mogadishu.
The decision to block Artan sparked international outrage, though Fifa president Gianni Infantino urged people to “chill, relax” when questioned about the situation.
Artan’s career has since seen a significant boost, with European football body Uefa appointing him to oversee the prestigious Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St Germain and Aston Villa in August.
