Referee Omar Artan who was banned from entering the United States to officiate at a World Cup says his determination to be involved in the game remains unfazed.
Speaking shortly after returning to a hero’s welcome in his native Somalia, Artan said his sights are firmly set on officiating at the 2030 World Cup.
Government officials, football federation representatives and fans had gathered at the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu whe his plane landed on Wednesday.
34-year-old Artan was declared African referee of the year in 2025 and was among 52 referees appointed by FIFA to officiate matches at this year’s World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals.
This dream was shattered after immigration authorities at Miami International Airport denied him entry on Monday.
He was carrying a diplomatic passport with a single entry US visa.
The US authorities later claimed Artan was linked to the Somali militant sect al-Shabaab, which was blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organisation.
Somalia is under a travel ban by the Donald Trump administration.
Members of the football fraternity have strongly criticised the US for denying Artan and other persons linked to the World Cup from entering the country. These include fans, staff of national teams participating and fotball federation officials.
Former England and Arsenal player Ian Wright dismissed the tournament as a ”World Cup of chaos”.
WN/as/APA