Fifa to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup fee

Omar Artan has been a Fifa referee since 2018

Published 8 hours ago

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive the full amount of his tournament fee.

Artan was questioned for 11 hours by US immigration officials at Miami International Airport on Monday before being informed he would not be permitted into the country, following the rejection of his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa.

A US government official stated that Artan was not allowed entry due to an alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations."

Artan said he was interrogated by border agents about his connections to the Somali militant group Al Shabab and told them he had no knowledge of the organization.

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," said Artan.

"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."

After being placed back on a flight to Turkey, Artan received help from Fifa officials in Istanbul before catching a plane to the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Sources informed BBC Sport that, despite Artan not participating in the World Cup, Fifa has promised to pay his salary.

Referees are not aware of the exact fee they will earn for officiating at the World Cup, which is disbursed after the tournament concludes.

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Referee Omar Artan arrives back in Somalia following US visa rejection

Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men's referee of the year, has since been invited to officiate the Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria on 12 August.

The 34-year-old, who expressed gratitude to "my people and my country" after being welcomed in his homeland, has pledged to officiate at the 2030 World Cup.

Artan had a standout year in 2025, becoming the first Somali to take charge of a continental final.

In June 2025, he officiated the second leg of Pyramids FC's African Champions League final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.

Fifa appointed Artan to the U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he oversaw three matches, including the third-place play-off.

At the close of the year, he refereed two group games at the Africa Cup of Nations, having also officiated at the tournament in 2024.