Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA Somali referee, Omar Artan, has been barred from entering the US, despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. Artan was set to make history as the first person from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, chief of the White House’s World Cup Taskforce, defended the decision, citing alleged connections to "bad actors.” Giuliani stated that anyone communicating with individuals who pose a threat to the US would not be granted entry. He declined to elaborate further on the specifics of the ban, emphasising the importance of ensuring a safe and secure tournament. In fullUS defends decision to ban Somali World Cup referee over alleged links to ‘bad actors’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Somali referee denied entry to US ahead of World Cup due to ‘bad actor’ links
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA Somali referee, Omar Artan, has been barred from entering the US, despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. Artan was set to make history as the first person from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, chief of the White House’s World Cup Taskforce, defended the decision, citing alleged connections to "bad actors.” Giuliani stated that anyone communicating with individuals who pose a threat to the US would not be granted entry. He declined to elaborate further on the specifics of the ban, emphasising the importance of ensuring a safe and secure tournament. In fullUS defends decision to ban Somali World Cup referee over alleged links to ‘bad actors’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
