Banned World Cup referee called Trump 'racist'

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year who had been set to become the first Somali official to referee a FIFA World Cup match, was denied entry to the United States and will not officiate at the 2026 tournament, according to information provided by officials and FIFA.

According to Newsweek, Artan's trip ended at Miami International Airport after he arrived on a flight from Istanbul. Although the Somalia Embassy in Kenya had processed a valid visa for him, US Customs and Border Protection determined that he was "inadmissible due to vetting concerns."

A Trump administration official said vetting had uncovered "derogatory information", which allegedly included "association with suspected members of terror organisations."

The official also cited resurfaced social media posts from an account believed to belong to Artan, identified as @Ref_Artan. The posts reportedly referred to President Donald Trump as a "racist" and described his 2017 inauguration as "radical."

The account also criticised US leadership on other occasions, expressing disappointment in President Joe Biden in 2021 over a stalled visa application and telling the State Department to keep its "hands off" Somalia during exchanges involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The decision comes amid broader US immigration restrictions affecting Somalia. Somalia is among 39 countries impacted by the administration's travel ban, while since 2019 visa applicants have been required to disclose social media accounts used during the previous five years as part of security screening procedures.

FIFA confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in training activities or officiate matches during the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico.

The case has prompted criticism from some observers and raised questions about the challenges international sporting bodies may face when staging global events in countries with stringent entry requirements.

Artan returned to Mogadishu, where he received a public welcome. Thousands of supporters gathered at a stadium to greet him, while Hamza Abdi Barre hosted the referee and said he had "already won the hearts of millions" despite being denied the opportunity to officiate at the tournament.

Artan thanked supporters for their backing and said he intended to attend a future World Cup.