MIAMI – Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the US to officiate at the World Cup, will be paid his full tournament fee.
The Trump administration said the US had denied Artan entry for the World Cup because of his links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.
A source familiar with the matter said that even though Artan would not take part in the World Cup, Fifa had committed to paying his salary.
Artan, Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, was set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer’s global showpiece but was turned back by US Customs and Border Protection.
However, he returned home to a hero’s welcome while European soccer body Uefa appointed him to officiate the Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St Germain and Aston Villa in August.
- Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the US to officiate at the World Cup.
- The Trump administration cited Artan's alleged links to "suspected members of terror organisations" as the reason for the denial.
- Despite not participating, FIFA committed to paying Artan his full tournament fee.
- Artan, named Africa's referee of the year in 2025, missed becoming the first Somali to officiate at the World Cup.
- He received a hero's welcome back home and was later appointed by UEFA to officiate the Uefa Super Cup match in August.
