After subjecting Iraq striker Aymen Hussein to a seven-hour interrogation, and denying entry to the entire Iran team except for matches, the United States has now banned referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from attending the World Cup.
Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match, will not be able to train or take charge of a game at the tournament after being turned away at the border over the weekend, a Fifa spokesman said on Monday.
In a statement, the world governing body said it was “not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications”.
Authorities told Fifa that Artan’s status would “not be changed at present”.
The official reportedly had a valid visa.
