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

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the United States ahead of officiating at the World Cup, will receive his full tournament fee.

Artan was questioned for 11 hours by US immigration officials at Miami International Airport on Monday before being told he could not enter the country after his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa were rejected.

A US government official said Artan was denied entry over an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations”.

Artan said border officials questioned him about possible links to Somali militant group Al Shabab, which he said he knew nothing about.

“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 put back on a flight to Turkey, Artan received help from FIFA officials in Istanbul before travelling to the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Sources told BBC Sport that although Artan will not take part in the World Cup, FIFA has agreed to pay his salary.

Referees are not told the exact fee they will receive for officiating at the World Cup, which is paid after the tournament concludes.

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