World Cup Referee, Denied Entry To U.s. Because Of Suspected Ties To Terrorists, Hailed In Return To Somalia

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied introduction into nan United States for nan World Cup aft enduring an 11-hour interrogation successful Miami, according to media reports. Andrew Giuliani, caput of nan White House Task Force connected nan World Cup, indicated Artan was suspected to having ties to a Somali militant group.

“We want to make judge we are not going to let a shot tourney to beryllium nan opportunity for terrorists to perchance get successful nan state aliases anybody who is really talking to them,” Giuliani told nan British Broadcasting Corporation.

The New York Times reported that Artan’s sanction is akin to that of a man identified arsenic linked to Al Shabab, a group that has been nan target of U.S. authorities sanctions.

“I americium very, very disappointed,” Artan told nan Times from Istanabul, wherever he stopped connected his measurement backmost to Somalia. “I’m conscionable simply a referee who’s trying to unrecorded his dream, nan biggest dream of my life, to travel to nan World Cup.”

Safety was purportedly nan interest pinch Artan, whose interrogation was conducted by nan U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“During processing, nan traveler underwent further inspection, a regular portion of CBP’s inspection process erstwhile officers request to verify accusation aliases find admissibility,” CBP said successful a statement. “Following inspection, nan traveler, a referee for nan FIFA World Cup, was wished to beryllium inadmissible owed to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

Somalia is connected nan U.S. database of banned countries for immigration, though exceptions tin beryllium made. Artan is considered 1 of nan champion referees successful Africa, having officiated successful nan Somali nationalist shot convention title and astatine nan African Cup of Nations.

“Despite nan circumstances, I americium successful a affirmative temper and focused connected nan adjacent challenges successful my refereeing career,” Artan said successful a statement. “I would for illustration to convey FIFA and [the African federation] for each their support and I committedness to support my refereeing levels up arsenic I ore connected nan future.”

Artan, Africa’s Referee of nan Year successful 2025, was greeted Wednesday astatine Aden Adde International Airport successful Somalia by authorities officials and hundreds of well-wishers.

“I want to convey FIFA for supporting maine each nan way, and for Somali group also,” he told Al Jazeera. “So I americium very grateful for FIFA and for CAF also. This is what I person to say.”