Somali referee Omar Artan will reportedly receive his full pay as a World Cup referee despite the United States blocking his entry into the country. Artan had to fly home after officials in the US, which is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada, said he had an association with suspected members of terror organisations.
But the BBC on Sunday, citing sources close to the matter, said the 2025 African referee of the year would receive his full tournament fee despite not officiating any matches.
European football's governing body UEFA, in a clear broadside against World Cup organiser FIFA, announced after his entry ban that Artan would referee the Super Cup final between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League victors Aston Villa in August.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan in a statement released hours before the World Cup kicked off. "Omar Artan is an excellent, young, but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football," Ceferin said. "Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination."
Artan, who was due to break new ground as the first Somali referee to take part in football's grandest stage, was denied entry after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on June 6. "During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," US Customs and Border Protection said in its statement. "Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."
FIFA confirmed later that Artan wouldn't be able to train and officiate at the World Cup. "FIFA 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," FIFA said in a statement. "In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
