FIFA World Cup referee Omar Artan to receive full fee despite US denial of entry

Referee Omar Artan, center, (AP Photo) Somalia referee Omar Artan will receive full World Cup pay despite being barred from officiating at the tournament after being denied entry to the United States, according to a person familiar with the matter.According to the Associated Press, Artan would be entitled to the same tournament fee he would have received had he entered the competition. The final amount is expected to be determined after the World Cup ends next month.Widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials, Artan has been selected to referee the World Cup following an exceptional year in which he was named the best African male referee for 2025.However, his participation in the tournament ended before it began after he was refused entry after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week.According to US Customs and Border Protection, Artan was considered “inadmissible due to screening concerns”.The 34-year-old man has already been granted a visa to travel to the United States, according to the Somali Embassy in Kenya, which handled the application process. He was due to join fellow World Cup referees at a training camp in Miami before the tournament.FIFA later clarified that it played no role in immigration decisions, noting that final authority over entry rests with the host country’s government. As a result, Artan was unable to participate in training activities or officiate any matches during the nearly six-week tournament.Despite the disappointment, Artan received a warm welcome upon his return to Somalia earlier this week. The crowds welcomed him home and the referee expressed his determination to be part of the next World Cup in 2030, which will be held mainly in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.Artan’s standing in the global game was further underlined by his recent appointment to manage the UEFA Super Cup in August, one of the main draws of European football.“Football is made to bring people together and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his excellent officiating skills,” UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement.While Artan’s opportunity at the World Cup was curtailed by immigration issues, the decision to pay his full tournament salary and his selection for other major international engagements underlines the high regard in which he continues to be held in world football.