FIFA to pay Somali referee Omar Artan despite U.S. entry ban
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full FIFA World Cup officiating fee despite being denied entry into the United States and missing football’s biggest tournament, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision means Artan will receive the full fee attached to his FIFA World Cup appointment even though he […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full FIFA World Cup officiating fee despite being denied entry into the United States and missing football’s biggest tournament, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The decision means Artan will receive the full fee attached to his FIFA World Cup appointment even though he was unable to officiate at the competition.
Artan, widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials, had been selected to officiate at the World Cup in what would have been a historic milestone for Somali football. His appointment was set to make him the first Somali referee to officiate at the sport’s most prestigious tournament.
The opportunity ended abruptly when U.S. authorities denied him entry before the competition. The Trump administration said the decision was based on what it described as links to “suspected members of terror organizations.”
Despite his absence from the tournament, FIFA has committed to paying Artan the full fee associated with his World Cup assignment.
The episode attracted widespread attention across Somalia, where Artan’s rise from domestic football to the highest levels of international officiating has become a source of national pride.
Named Africa’s Referee of the Year in 2025, Artan has built a reputation as one of the continent’s most respected officials. His selection for the World Cup was viewed as a landmark achievement not only for his career but also for Somali football, which has long sought greater representation on the global stage.
News of his exclusion from the tournament sparked disappointment among many Somalis, who had hoped to see one of their own participate in football’s premier event. Yet the setback has done little to slow his ascent within the game.
In a major boost to his international standing, UEFA has appointed Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup in August between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. The annual match, which pits the winners of Europe’s two major club competitions against each other, is among the continent’s most prestigious officiating assignments.
The appointment is widely seen as a strong endorsement of Artan’s abilities and professionalism, reinforcing his status among football’s elite referees despite the controversy surrounding his World Cup absence.
For many observers, the UEFA assignment marks a remarkable turnaround. A referee who was unable to take part in the World Cup will now oversee one of the biggest fixtures in European football just weeks later.
Artan returned to Somalia to a warm welcome from supporters, sports officials and members of the public, many of whom hailed him as a trailblazer for a new generation of Somali athletes and officials seeking international recognition.
His journey from Somali football to the global stage continues to resonate across the Horn of Africa, where his achievements are viewed as evidence that talent from Somalia can compete and excel at the highest levels of world sport.
As preparations begin for the UEFA Super Cup, attention is once again focused on Omar Artan – not because of the opportunity he missed at the FIFA World Cup, but because of the historic role he is set to play in the next chapter of his career.
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