Omar Artan, the referee who was prevented from entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup, has lost out on a significant financial opportunity. Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport last weekend despite holding valid travel documentation.
FIFA confirms removal from roster
FIFA has since confirmed that Artan has been removed from its list of officials. The governing body stated it could not intervene, emphasizing that it is "not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present." FIFA added: "In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
Lucrative payday lost
Reports from The Times indicate that referees at the first-ever 48-team World Cup are set to earn £75,000 each, with additional payments for those officiating knockout matches. The referee for the final could receive up to £325,000. Artan's exclusion means he misses out on one of the most lucrative paydays of his career.
Artan's response
Artan, who returned to Somalia to a hero's reception, responded to his exclusion by telling Reuters: "Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career. I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future." He added: "I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions."
Outrage and broader implications
The decision has sparked outrage, especially given that the World Cup is already mired in controversy. Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia's ministry of youth and sports and a former national team captain, told AFP: "Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches not only harms him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit and the spirit of fair play."
Somalia is among the nations subject to a US travel ban that came into force in June last year. Iran also features on the list. The Iranian squad will be headquartered in Mexico, making brief trips across the border for their group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. While all Iranian players have received visas, the country's federation revealed that 12 members of their backroom staff have been refused entry into the US ahead of the tournament.
