Banned referee Artan arrives home in Somalia
Omar Artan vows to officiate at the 2030 World Cup instead after arriving home in Somalia in the wake of being banned from entering the United States.
Omar Artan vows to officiate at the 2030 World Cup instead after arriving home in Somalia in the wake of being banned from entering the United States.
This episode feels symbolic of a World Cup where the global game has been sacrificed to Fifa’s cynical money-making – and Trumpian whim Omar Abdulkadir Artan was supposed to make history this week, becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup. Instead, he’s watching from outside...
Artan deemed a threat to national security by US officials ‘I promise you that I will attend the next one’ The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the US arrived on Wednesday in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where he was received by a crowd of supporters and officials. Omar Ar...
The ref was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan says he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding the "right papers" and "right visa".
Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, is dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States.