First World Cup Somali referee Omar Artan barred from entering US | BBC News
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Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States.
Time the European FA's sidestepped FIFA with a new body, and new rules. Even Hitler didn't ban Jessie Owens! Trump's Amerika's phuqed.
Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football men's referee of the year, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.
No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
Why the rest of the referees and associations aren't refusing to participate after this is beyond me. It should be re-instate him or you are going to have get unfit Sunday afternoon school refs. As if all the rest of the Diaper Don crap isn't bad enough this should be the final straw.
After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.
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Must have had good reason.
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Trust me this world cup is only there to spread a virus
More User Perspectives
I wish World Cup wasn’t in America
@Monkeboireborn35Mr President, right as always, just look at the UK, their inhabitants stabbed daily, God help them ❤
@Siri-q2l😂😂😂😂😂 TRUMP CUP instead of World cup
@Resident-y8cGood
@gavcfc54Shame for Africa. It is for Somalia today and will be to any other African tomorrow.
If the African teams do not boycotted the World Cup, then that will set the precedence for all others. The so-called CAF must make a decision.
FIFA must punish USA. Otherwise, we will not warch this tournament. Corrupt FIFA!
I wouldn’t want pirates entering my country too
@ADR-f9uHow dare the US police their borders. The guy is clearly a genuine and talented referee but surely this is Americas right?
@theemperorofboxingtruth3745Brilliant 😂
@darrenclarke161This is straight up wrong. The World Cup is all about bringing every nation together. Different cultures all united to watch the beautiful game. All fans,the best players and best officials of all over the world unite just for the love of the sport. But politics come into the sport again. I hope footballing associations wake up and decide we don’t need fifa anymore. They have proven their one goal is money. It is definitely no longer about football.
@BabyLightbornsBoycott FIFA
@nadzk2378Snakes near the Swiss team’s training site? No problem.
Players and referees reportedly facing entry issues? No problem.
The World Cup getting dragged into politics? No problem.
Using “Reaganomics” to justify outrageously overpriced tickets? No problem.
But let’s go back to 2022, when Qatar restricted Pride flags. Suddenly, we were told it was the worst World Cup in history and proof that football/soccer was finished forever.
Amazing how some controversies become international scandals, while others barely earn a shrug.
So what if somalia had qualify for the world cup 😮
@akosahdennis2748How funny it would be if the usa team,won the world cup 🤔
@leevespa4564❤❤❤❤❤❤ good work 👏 🙌 👍
@COPELEFTBoycott this WC in every way possible.
@SlimDavenportThis is turning into a circus !!!!
@belugafan2345Maybe he is a LBGT guy. Mr. BBC do you remember world cup in Qatar?
@gulambaka4329He took his anger out by stabbing a guy in Belfast today 😮😮😮
@nc2933They could not have chosen the worst place to host the games.
@louisemay8185Oh well Omar should have be schooled in a learing centre in Minnesota.
@ellybell8356Disgusting!
@mattinterwebWhy did the beeb remove the comments section from their coverage of the attempted beheading in a Belfast street?
@boomironFIFA is such a waste of space, the most corrupt organisation.
@basdfgweHard to know which regime is more corrupt FIFA or the current US administration. Perhaps North Korea can host after Saudi?
@Annabel007FIFA said we don’t accept Racism was the biggest joke 😂
@amin5572FIFA president must resign now
@abasabdi8745FIFA president?????
@abasabdi8745FIFA ??????
@abasabdi8745FIFA under Infantino is the worst. The US is a terrible host.
@marioidsouzaIsrael should be banned from the World Cup and all other sports competitions.
@JohnofthefamilySmithThe World Cup needs to be boycotted, America has no shame. Shame on FIFA for not making this happen.
@csharpe5787I honestly don't care .
@martinmoot7048And the FIFA creeps bow to their master.
@janhanchenmichelsen2627If Russia is banned from the World Cup for attacking Ukraine, why isn’t the United States banned for attacking Iran?
@JohnofthefamilySmithFIFA he’s your man, stand up for him.
@edc1569Yeahhhh. Common sense at last...
@rbee3936Keep the Somali pirates out of football. Well done America.
@Dylan-qt5nrThey defend Israeli clubs. Dismantle fifa
@rashidhurree3351You will soon see our failed government granting offshore oil drilling deals to the US. Africa is not free.
@SaidMohamud-t6wI think they should never do the World Cup in USA again … FIFA is doing the organisation and through FIFA referees and football players shouldn’t go through getting a Visa
@jaydkjaydk3677Oh I think it's quite clear why he's not being allowed in
@CathyHarrisLCSWIt will only happen to muslims
@rashidhurree335105.41 Why would you be concerned about legally entering the USA?
@RON580415World cup ❌
Trump cup ✅
You could guarantee the BBC would be all over this story.
RIP Henry Novak
With referees, players and football administration been banned from the US will this world Cup be genuine.
He can travel to Canada so why not let him officiate matches in out there. FIFA is beating the knee to USA.