Who is the Somali referee barred from entering the US for the World Cup? 7 days ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Rob Stevens , BBC Sport Africa and Abdinasir Ali , BBC Somali Getty Images Omar Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 after working his way through the ranks of the Somali and African game Refereeing at the 2026 Fifa World Cup was set to be the highlight of Omar Artan’s career, but the Somali will miss out on the opportunity to take charge of matches on the game’s biggest stage after being denied entry to the United States. The 34-year-old, who was set to become the first man from his country to play an on-pitch role at the finals, was turned away by border officials in Miami despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. “Every referee’s ambition is to go to the World Cup,” Artan told BBC Somali in an interview last week before leaving home. “When you are selected, you feel that all your hard work was worth it. It was a moment where everything came into focus. “Years of effort finally made sense.” Artan, who was named the best male referee in Africa last year and took charge of two matches at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), had been hailed as “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis” by the country’s President Hassan Mohamud after being included in the list of Fifa match officials. The Somali government is mounting diplomatic efforts in a bid to resolve the issue, but Artan looks set to be excluded from the World Cup after rising through the officiating ranks in a country which has been troubled by conflict in recent decades. The US State Department told BBC Africa that it welcomes “legitimate travellers” to the World Cup and adjudicates each visa application on a case-by-case basis “after rigorous review and thorough vetting”. It also cited “national security and public safety” as other factors in their visa process. For now Artan remains in Turkey’s main city Istanbul following his removal from US soil, but it is believed he will return to Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Wednesday. Somali referee Artan barred from entering US ‘A World Cup for them not us’: Fans’ anger at US travel bans and visa restrictions An important mentor Artan’s refereeing career began in Mogadishu on neighbourhood pitches after a leg injury ended his playing days. He unexpectedly first picked up a whistle during a local match when a dispute over the referee prompted players on both sides to ask him to take over. He accepted and remained in the role. Artan went on to officiate in organised competitions in the city, although much of his early development came while overseeing informal and semi-organised fixtures. A key influence in his early career was Osman Jama Dirac, the former head of referees in Somalia. Dirac provided technical guidance and personal support during a period when Somali football operated with limited institutional structure and little international exposure. “He was like a father to us,” Artan said. “He did not just lead referees, he took care of us. If you were in Mogadishu and had nothing, he would make sure you ate, he would take you to a restaurant.” However, Dirac was killed in August 2017. Artan has spoken of the timing with restraint. “It was very hard,” he said. “He was preparing me to become an international [referee]. He would have been proud to see a Somali reaching this level.” Rising through the continental game Getty Images Artan refereed three matches at the 2023 Afcon, and two at the 2025 edition of the finals Artan became a Fifa-listed referee in 2018 and steadily moved through the African game, overseeing high-profile continental fixtures. In January 2024, he became the first Somali to referee at an Afcon game, taking charge of the Group E match between Tunisia and Namibia. He was recognised by Confederation of African Football (Caf) as its top male official in November, before being appointed by the continent’s governing body to oversee the second le