Somali referee Omar Artan returns home after US entry ban
Somali referee Omar Artan has returned home after being denied entry into the United States, despite holding a diplomatic passport. He was set to be the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan has returned to his home country following his denial of entry into the United States. Artan, who was expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup finals, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport on Monday despite possessing a diplomatic passport and a valid visa. The 34-year-old, named Africa's referee of the year in 2025, had been slated to referee at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Upon his arrival in Somalia, Artan expressed his determination to officiate at the 2030 World Cup. The reasons for his denial of entry have not been publicly disclosed.
Sources: BBC News — World