World Cup referee, denied entry to U.S. because of suspected ties to terrorists, hailed in return to Somalia - BERITAJA

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied introduction into the United States for the World Cup aft enduring an 11-hour interrogation successful Miami, according to media reports. Andrew Giuliani, caput of the White House Task Force connected the World Cup, indicated Artan was suspected to having ties to a Somali militant group.

“We want to make judge we are not going to let a shot tourney to beryllium the opportunity for terrorists to perchance get successful the state aliases anybody who is really talking to them,” Giuliani told the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The New York Times reported that Artan’s sanction is akin to that of a man identified arsenic linked to Al Shabab, a group that has been the target of U.S. authorities sanctions.

“I americium very, very disappointed,” Artan told the Times from Istanabul, wherever he stopped connected his measurement backmost to Somalia. “I’m conscionable simply a referee who’s trying to unrecorded his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to travel to the World Cup.”

Safety was purportedly the interest pinch Artan, whose interrogation was conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“During processing, the traveler underwent further inspection, a regular portion of CBP’s inspection process erstwhile officers request to verify accusation aliases find admissibility,” CBP said successful a statement. “Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was wished to beryllium inadmissible owed to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

Somalia is connected the U.S. database of banned countries for immigration, though exceptions could beryllium made. Artan is considered 1 of the champion referees successful Africa, having officiated successful the Somali nationalist shot convention title and astatine the African Cup of Nations.

“Despite the circumstances, I americium successful a affirmative temper and focused connected the adjacent challenges successful my refereeing career,” Artan said successful a statement. “I would for illustration to convey FIFA and [the African federation] for each their support and I committedness to support my refereeing levels up arsenic I ore connected the future.”

Artan, Africa’s Referee of the Year successful 2025, was greeted Wednesday astatine Aden Adde International Airport successful Somalia by authorities officials and hundreds of well-wishers.

“I want to convey FIFA for supporting maine each the way, and for Somali group also,” he told Al Jazeera. “So I americium very grateful for FIFA and for CAF also. This is what I person to say.”