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Somali Referee Thanks FIFA on Journey Home As Denied Entry to U.S
Somali international football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has thanked FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Somali people late Tuesday, June 9 at Istanbul Airport after being denied entry into the United States to officiate a World Cup match.
Artan expressed his gratitude at passport control while preparing for his return flight to Mogadishu. While he acknowledged the international football bodies, he declined to comment further on the process of his denial to enter the United States.
The denial completely halts the referee's participation in the global tournament.
A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the World Cup.
The incident sparked diplomatic efforts from his home country, though they ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US and FIFA so that Artan could enter the country and it was saddened by what had happened.
American authorities have remained tight-lipped regarding the exact reasons behind the decision. When asked about Artan being denied entry, US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott declined to provide specifics.
However, speaking on Tuesday, Scott stated that travellers are regularly denied entry to the US because they are not eligible for entry or pose a threat.
