Mogadishu (Somalia), 10 June (LaPresse/AP) – The Somali referee, who was due to officiate at the World Cup but was denied a US entry visa, has returned to Mogadishu, where he was greeted by a crowd of fans and officials. Omar Artan, named Africa’s best referee in 2025, would have been the first Somali to referee a World Cup match, but upon his arrival in Miami he was turned away due to ‘verification issues’. FIFA subsequently removed him from the tournament’s list of referees. “I promise you, God willing, that I will take part in the next edition (of the World Cup – ed.),” Artan declared at Aden Adde International Airport, where hundreds of supporters turned up waving the Somali flag. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.” The referee was escorted by police officers to the airport’s VIP terminal, where he was welcomed by the Somali Minister for Youth and Sport, officials from the Somali Football Federation and other dignitaries. “It is up to all of us to defend Somalia’s name,” Artan added. “Somalia belongs to us, whether it is in a difficult situation or not. That flag and that passport belong to us.”
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