Sports 14 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
FIFA to Compensate Somali Referee Artan Amid World Cup Entry Denial
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, will receive his full tournament fee from FIFA. Artan was detained and questioned for 11 hours at Miami International Airport before being denied entry due to allegations of association with terror groups. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/world-cup/fifa-to-pay-somali-referee-artan-full-world-cup-fee-5495830
Omar Artan, a prominent Somali referee, will be paid his full World Cup fee by FIFA despite being unable to officiate at the tournament. Artan was detained for an extended period at Miami International Airport upon arrival in the United States. US immigration officials questioned him for eleven hours, ultimately denying him entry.
The rejection stemmed from issues with his diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa, with a US government official citing an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations.” Artan, who has been named the Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year, stated he was questioned about links to the Somali militant group Al Shabab, a claim he denies.
After being put on a flight back to Turkey, Artan received support from FIFA officials in Istanbul. He has since returned to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Despite his absence from the World Cup matches, FIFA has committed to paying Artan his tournament salary, the exact amount of which is determined after the event.
Artan’s significant achievements in 2025 included being the first Somali to referee a continental final, overseeing the second leg of the African Champions League final. FIFA had previously appointed him to the U-20 World Cup in Chile and selected him for multiple matches in recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Recently invited to officiate the Uefa Super Cup, Artan, who has vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup, expressed gratitude to his supporters upon his return to his homeland.