Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States, preventing him from taking part in what would have been a historic World Cup assignment.
Artan was poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, a landmark achievement for both Somalia and African football.
According to reports, U.S. immigration officials questioned Artan for nearly 11 hours before denying him entry. He was reportedly detained for several more hours before being placed on a flight back to Istanbul.
Authorities have not publicly explained the decision. However, reports have linked the incident to U.S. travel restrictions that include Somalia among the affected countries.
Speaking after the ordeal, Artan expressed disappointment over the outcome. “I am just a referee trying to live my biggest dream: going to the World Cup. I am really, really disappointed. I had the correct documents and the correct visa. I think they have a problem with my country,” he said.
The incident has drawn attention from football fans and officials, many of whom have questioned why a referee selected for one of the sport’s biggest events was turned away despite reportedly possessing valid travel documents.
