A Somali referee set to make history at the World Cup says he was subjected to an 11-hour interrogation before being denied entry to the United States, despite holding a valid visa.
Omar Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was dropped from the tournament’s official list of match officials after border agents barred him at Miami International Airport.
World football’s governing body, FIFA, confirmed that Artan will miss the tournament, stating it has no involvement in host country immigration procedures and that US authorities will not review his status.
“I am very, very disappointed,” Artan told the New York Times. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream — the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
Following the marathon 11-hour interview, Artan said he was held in a detention cell for several hours before being deported on a flight to Istanbul. He believes his nationality was the primary factor, adding: “I think that they have a problem with my country.”
Somalia remains on a strict travel restrictions list maintained by President Donald Trump’s administration. In December, the US president drew criticism after stating he did not want Somali immigrants in the country.
An official from the Somali embassy in Nairobi confirmed to the BBC that Artan had been travelling with the correct documentation, including a diplomatic passport issued specifically to ease his travel following previous visa difficulties.
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the move during an interview with the BBC World Service. “While I can’t go into the derogatory information on that, I can tell you it was the right decision by Customs and Border Patrol, and I support that decision,” he said.
FIFA’s referees’ chief, Pierluigi Collina, has established the tournament’s official training hub in Miami, where all 52 referees and 88 assistant officials are required to stay for security, training, and logistical purposes.
Because of this mandatory Florida base, it was deemed impossible for Artan to remain outside the US to officiate matches hosted exclusively in co-host nations Canada or Mexico.
Add Comment