US government officials consider Omar Artan, who denies any affiliation with terrorist organizations, to be a threat to national security.
According to the Trump administration, Africa’s top referee was denied entrance to the US due to his connections to “suspected members of terror organizations.”
After US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made the decision, Omar Artan, who was scheduled to be the first Somali to officiate at football’s premier event, was taken off the list of match officials.
Africa’s 2025 referee of the year, Artan, told the New York Times on Tuesday that he was questioned for eleven hours at Miami International Airport after arriving from Turkey, including whether or not he knew any members of the extremist organization Al Shabab.
He claimed that after telling authorities that he was unaware of a group that the US government had sanctioned, he was held in a holding cell for a few more hours before being placed on a flight back to Turkey.
The CBP said in a statement that a Somali national landed at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was declared ineligible due to vetting issues, without naming Artan.
Later, a White House official stated that Artan was considered a national security danger by CBP officers.
In remarks provided to reporters under the condition of anonymity, the official stated, “Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations was discovered.”
“President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country, full stop,” the official stated, adding that this rendered him ineligible for entry under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Artan won’t be able to train or officiate in the event, which begins this week in the US, Mexico, and Canada, according to Fifa.
The government of Somalia stated it was saddened by what had transpired and that it had attempted in vain to arrange Artan’s entry into the nation with the US and Fifa.
According to a statement from the sports ministry, “his international accomplishments are a source of honor and pride for the Somali people.”
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) expressed regret over the event and described Artan’s appointment as a national achievement that came about as a consequence of years of commitment, professionalism, and honesty.
The SFF stated that it was closely collaborating with Fifa and pertinent authorities to comprehend the situation, but it had not received an official explanation for Artan’s denial of admittance.
According to the media, Artan had a valid visa.
Although he declined to elaborate, a senior Somali official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts were still being made to allow Artan into the US for the competition.
According to a Fifa representative, the organization “is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at present.”
Before boarding a trip to Somalia on Tuesday, Artan stated he was in a good mood while speaking at Istanbul Airport.
“I feel great right now,” he declared. I also wanted to express my gratitude to Fifa and the Somali people for their unwavering support. Therefore, I am also really appreciative of Fifa and Caf (the Confederation of African Football).
Although such information is usually only announced two to three days in advance, it is unclear which game or games Artan would have officiated.
The CBP commissioner, Rodney Scott, stated on Tuesday that travelers are frequently refused entrance into the US due to their ineligibility or potential threat.
Scott stated, “I don’t really care…what you do for a living, the law is still the law,” at a Washington event organized by the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization that promotes fewer immigrants.
“We won’t let you in just because we want you to officiate a game if you don’t meet the requirements to enter the country.”
For this summer’s competition, which begins on Thursday, Fifa has chosen 52 referees, including Artan.
Players and officials from Iraq and Iran, with which the US is at war, have also had trouble entering the United States for the World Cup.
Iran’s refusal to grant visas to 15 members of its backroom team, which the Islamic Republic denounced as “discriminatory,” has led US officials to accuse Iran of attempting to “sneak terrorists” into the nation.
Aymen Hussein, an Iraqi striker, was reportedly detained and interrogated for about seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport on Saturday before being granted entry into the United States.
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