Somali referee refused entry to US and will miss World Cup

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 inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleSomali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Saturday. CBP confirmed the denial on Monday, stating the referee, who was scheduled to officiate at the World Cup, was deemed "inadmissible due to vetting concerns" following an inspection. Separately, Iran's World Cup team arrived in Mexico this weekend wearing lapel pins bearing the number "168". The pins paid tribute to the 168 victims, predominantly children, of a missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, Iran, in February, an attack widely attributed to the US. This gesture follows a similar tribute in March when the team displayed school backpacks during their national anthem to highlight the same incident. In fullWorld Cup 2026: African referee denied entry into the United States by border controlThank 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

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