Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States and ruled out of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee, according to BBC Sport.
Artan was held and questioned for 11 hours by US immigration officials after arriving at Miami International Airport on Monday, June 8, before being told he would not be allowed into the country.
A US government official said the decision was linked to an alleged association with suspected members of terrorist organisations.
Speaking to the BBC, Omar Artan said he was questioned about possible links to the Somali militant group Al Shabab but denied any knowledge of the group.
“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,” he said.
Artan was returned to Turkey, where he received support from FIFA officials in Istanbul before travelling home to Mogadishu.
Although he will miss the tournament, sources told BBC Sport that FIFA will pay him his full World Cup fee. Referees are usually notified of their final payments after the tournament ends.
