Somali referee denied entry to the US for the World Cup will receive the full FIFA fee

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali soccer referee, was denied entry into the United States to officiate at the World Cup, but he will receive his full tournament fee.

The Trump administration announced that the United States had denied Artan entry for the World Cup due to his connections with “suspected members of terror organizations.

A source familiar with the matter indicated that even though Artan will not participate in the World Cup, FIFA has pledged to cover his salary.

Artan, Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, was poised to be the first Somali to officiate at soccer’s global showpiece but was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

He returned home to a hero’s welcome, and the European soccer body UEFA appointed him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris St. Germain and Aston Villa in August.