Somali referee Omar Artan will “not be able to referee at the World Cup as planned” after being “denied entry” to the U.S. for the tournament, according to Seth Vertelney of USA TODAY. Artan was named as a match official for the tournament in April, and had been set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup. However, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said that Artan was “turned away at the Miami airport because he ‘was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns.’” A FIFA Spokesperson said the organization is “not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications,” and it has been informed by authorities that Artan’s status will “not be changed at present.” The spokesperson added, “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.” Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports, said that Artan “had a valid visa to enter the U.S. but was turned away and has flown back to Istanbul.” Vertelney notes Somalia is on the list of countries on President Trump’s travel ban (USA TODAY, 6/8).
Somali referee denied U.S. entry, not able to work World Cup
