FIFA to Pay Full World Cup Fee to Somali Referee Omar Artan Despite US Entry Denial

Omar Artan will receive his full FIFA World Cup remuneration despite being denied entry into the United States, where he was scheduled to officiate matches at the tournament.

The 34-year-old Somali referee was reportedly detained and questioned for 11 hours at Miami International Airport after arriving in the United States on Monday before immigration authorities refused him entry. His diplomatic passport and single-entry visa were subsequently invalidated.

According to a US government official cited in reports, the decision was linked to an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations.” However, Artan has strongly denied any wrongdoing or links to extremist groups.

“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” Artan said. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”

After being denied entry, he was placed on a return flight to Turkey, where FIFA officials assisted him during a stopover before he eventually returned to Mogadishu, Somalia.

Despite the setback, football’s world governing body has confirmed that Artan will still be paid the full fee he would have earned for officiating at the World Cup, according to BBC Sport sources. Match officials are typically not informed of exact tournament payments in advance, with compensation usually processed after the competition concludes.

FIFA has not publicly commented on the specific circumstances of Artan’s exclusion but is understood to have maintained support for the referee following the incident.

The decision offers some financial consolation for Artan, whose World Cup dream has been cut short despite a rapid rise in international officiating.

Earlier in his career, he was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 and became the first Somali official to referee a continental club final, handling the CAF Champions League final second leg between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns.

He also officiated at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he took charge of three matches, including the third-place playoff, and featured in multiple Africa Cup of Nations fixtures.

Following his return to Somalia, Artan received a warm welcome and expressed gratitude to supporters, insisting he still hopes to return for future tournaments, including the 2030 World Cup cycle.

Although his participation in this tournament has ended prematurely, his reputation within international football remains intact, with FIFA’s payment decision seen as recognition of his standing among elite referees.