Somali World Cup referee blocked from US to receive full FIFA pay
New York Post • • sports
Key Points:
- Omar Artan, the Somali World Cup referee barred from entering the U.S. due to "vetting concerns," will receive full payment for the matches he was scheduled to officiate, though the exact amount is still being determined.
- Artan was detained for over 11 hours at Miami International Airport on June 6 before being sent back to Somalia, with U.S. officials citing alleged associations with suspected terror members, a claim Artan denies.
- After the incident, UEFA appointed Artan to referee the upcoming Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, and he received a hero’s welcome upon returning to Somalia.
- FIFA faced criticism for not intervening in Artan’s U.S. entry denial, with President Gianni Infantino describing the situation as "unfortunate" and emphasizing that host countries control immigration decisions.
- Infantino urged calm and patience in resolving such issues, cautioning that immediate public outcry might hinder finding solutions.
