News Focus
- US border officials denied entry to Omar Artan at Miami International Airport on Monday.
- The Trump administration claims the referee has connections to suspected terror organisation members.
- Artan was scheduled to become the first Somali match official to take charge of a World Cup finals game.
- Somalia is currently on a US travel ban list covering 12 nations.
- Hundreds of supporters greeted Artan at Mogadishu Airport upon his return on Wednesday.
United States border authorities have stopped a top African referee from entering the country. Omar Artan, aged 34, had planned to officiate matches at the World Cup finals. He holds the title of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year for 2025.
Officials detained Artan at Miami International Airport earlier this week. He carried a diplomatic passport and a visa for single entry. However, officers from Customs and Border Protection refused him admission.
A spokesperson for the Trump administration explained the reasons for the denial. They stated that security checks revealed derogatory information about the traveller. This included suspected links to members of terror groups. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, such findings make a person ineligible to enter the country.
The administration source added that President Trump’s government will not permit security threats to cross US borders. Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, supported the decision. He stated that he could not share specific details about the security information.
Somalia appears on a list of 12 countries facing a complete entry ban under President Trump’s orders from June 2025. The restrictions apply to all visa categories. This prevented Artan from travelling to the tournament officials’ base in Florida.
All match officials for the World Cup must stay in Florida for training and security purposes. They cannot live outside the United States and travel only for games in Canada or Mexico. Because of this rule, Artan could not continue his duties from another country.
Artan had aimed to make history as the first Somali referee at a World Cup finals. He was one of 52 officials selected for the tournament. He told reporters that immigration officers questioned him for 11 hours. He then spent several hours in detention before authorities placed him on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
The match official returned to his homeland on Wednesday. He landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. Large crowds gathered there to welcome him. Supporters carried banners and wore special hats bearing his picture. Several social media celebrities also attended the event.
Senior government figures met Artan at the airport. These included representatives from the Somali Football Federation. Later, he held talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the Presidential Palace.
Artan spoke briefly to journalists upon arrival. He thanked ministers, Members of Parliament, and ordinary citizens for their backing. He stated that he still hopes to officiate at the 2030 World Cup. He urged young Somalis to remain proud of their country despite this setback.
The referee’s comments came after controversial statements by President Trump in December 2025. At that time, Trump described Somalia as barely a functioning country. He also suggested Somali immigrants should return to their homeland. He referred to them using offensive language.
Artan is expected to attend a public event at Mogadishu Stadium later today. He will watch a match between Heegan and Dekadaha. Thousands of fans are likely to attend to show their support for the banned official.