World Cup 2026: Fifa to pay Somali referee full tournament fee - BBC Sport

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his tournament fee from Fifa in full.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Omar Artan has been a Fifa referee since 2018

Football issues correspondentPublished5 hours agoSomali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee.

Artan was interrogated for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport on Monday before being told he would not be allowed into the country after his diplomatic passport and single entry US visa were rejected.

A US government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of an alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations".

Artan said he had been questioned by border officials over his links to Somali militant group Al Shabab and had told them he knew nothing about the organisation.