Omar Abdulkadir Artan turned away on arrival in the US for the World Cup
He was sent back to Turkey
The Somali referee was denied entry to the US despite having been selected by FIFA for the tournament.
The football world is in shock. With the 2026 World Cup set to kick off on 11 June, concerns continue to mount over Omar Abdulkadir Artan’s situation. He obtained his visa after a long wait, but his arrival in the United States has not gone as smoothly as for other African officials.
The Somali referee, one of the best on the African continent, has reportedly been denied entry to the US by the authorities. He has been sent back to Turkey.
As yet, no official reason has been given for this decision. The actual circumstances surrounding this situation therefore remain unclear, fuelling much speculation across Africa.
