Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee. Despite being barred from participating in the event due to visa issues, FIFA has committed to paying his salary.
Artan was interrogated for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport before being told he would not be allowed into the country. His diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa were rejected on grounds of an alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations".
Artan refuted these allegations, stating that he had no knowledge or connection with Somali militant group Al Shabab. After this ordeal, Artan was put back on a plane to Turkey.
Assistance from FIFA officials
Upon landing in Turkey, Artan received assistance from Fifa officials in Istanbul before boarding a flight back home to Mogadishu. Despite not taking part in any World Cup activities due to his deportation, sources confirmed that FIFA has committed itself towards paying him his full tournament fee. It is important to note that referees are usually unaware of their exact compensation until after the tournament concludes.
Despite this setback, Artan's career continues on an upward trajectory. The 34-year-old referee was named Confederation of African Football (Caf) men's referee of the year in 2025 and has since been invited to officiate at other prestigious events such as Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa scheduled for August 12th in Salzburg Austria. Artan expressed gratitude towards "my people and my country" upon returning home and vowed he would officiate at future tournaments including the 2030 World Cup.
Somali referee, Omar Artan, said:
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,"
"I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
Notable achievements
In addition to these recent developments, Artan has a string of accomplishments under his belt. In 2025, he made history by becoming the first Somali to officiate a continental final. He was in charge of the second leg of Pyramids FC's African Champions League final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
FIFA also appointed Artan to the U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he took charge of three matches including the third-place play-off. At the end of that year, he refereed two group games at the Africa Cup of Nations, having also officiated at this tournament in 2024.
Despite facing challenges and setbacks on his journey as an international referee, Omar Artan continues to rise above them and make significant strides in his career. His story serves as an inspiration for sports fans and sports betting fans alike - demonstrating resilience and commitment towards one's passion.
