What assistance did FIFA provide to the referee after his denied entry?

Question

Accepted Answer

FIFA Provided Full Tournament Fee and On-Ground Support to Somali Referee Denied US Entry

FIFA has committed to paying Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan his full tournament fee, despite him being denied entry to the United States and unable to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following his detention and subsequent expulsion, FIFA officials in Istanbul provided Artan with assistance before he traveled back to Mogadishu.
Full Tournament Fee Assured

Despite being unable to participate in the tournament due to being denied entry to the US, Omar Abdulkadir Artan will still receive his complete salary for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Referees selected for the competition receive their payment after the tournament concludes, but FIFA has confirmed Artan's entitlement to the full amount.
Eleven-Hour Immigration Scrutiny

Artan, who was selected as the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, faced an extensive immigration process upon arrival at Miami International Airport. US authorities questioned him for 11 hours before ultimately rejecting his entry into the country. His diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa were also invalidated during this encounter.
FIFA Assistance in Istanbul

After being placed on a flight bound for Turkiye, Artan received support from FIFA officials while in transit in Istanbul. This assistance was provided before he continued his journey to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. A US government official stated that Artan was denied entry due to alleged associations with suspected members of terror organizations, a claim Artan denies.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

What assistance did FIFA provide to the referee after his denied entry?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends