MOGADISHU: Somalia has defended its referee Omar Artan after he was denied entry to the United States, preventing him from becoming the first Somali official to officiate at a World Cup finals. In a statement on Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Sports expressed “deep regret” over Artan’s denial of entry, saying that despite diplomatic engagement with US authorities and world football governing body FIFA, it was “not possible to achieve a positive outcome.” Artan, an award-winning referee, was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.
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June 09, 2026 12:13
MOGADISHU: Somalia has defended its referee Omar Artan after he was denied entry to the United States, preventing him from becoming the first Somali official to officiate at a World Cup finals.
Somalia on Tuesday defended award-winning referee Omar Artan after he was denied entry to the United States, preventing him from…
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied…
The Somali referee Omar Artan criticised the decision to bar him entry to the US for the World Cup as “unfortunate” after…
Omar Artan thanks FIFA for its support after he is barred from entering the United States, ending his dream of refereeing at his…
Somalia defends award-winning referee Omar Artan after he was denied US entry, preventing him from officiating at the World Cup.…
The United States denied entry to Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan over the weekend, preventing him from becoming…
Referee Omar Artan given hero’s welcome in Somalia after US entry blocked
