Africa’s referee of the year was denied entry to the United States on Monday because of his “association with suspected members of terror organisations”, a US official has said — a claim the FIFA president has responded to by telling critics to “chill and relax”.
Omar Artan, 34, was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup finals when he arrived at Miami International Airport carrying a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. Instead, he was turned away and put on an expedited removal flight back to Mogadishu.
“Somali referee Omar Artan was denied US entry over 'terror links', prompting FIFA chief Infantino to urge critics to 'chill and relax'.”
“This individual was seeking admission to the United States,” a Trump administration source said. “Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organisations, was discovered making the traveller ineligible for admission … President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country – full stop.”
Artan, who told the New York Times he was questioned about his links to the Somali militant group Al Shabab and insisted he knew nothing about the group, landed at Aden Adde International Airport on Wednesday to a hero’s welcome. He was greeted by government officials, representatives of the Somali Football Federation, fellow referees and local residents before meeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the Presidential Palace.
“I’d like to thank the officials, ministers, MPs and everyone,” Artan said in a brief statement at the airport, declining to take questions. “Everything is pre-destined. Fifa supported me well and were in touch with me until I reached Mogadishu. I promise you that I’ll be officiating you in the next World Cup.”
The case triggered fury and drew a response from FIFA president Gianni Infantino at a press conference on Wednesday — his first public address in three years — just a day before the tournament kicks off. Infantino, who also addressed Iran’s visa problems, claimed he would have driven the Iranian national team bus from Tehran to the United States to get them to the World Cup.
Turning to Artan’s exclusion, the 56-year-old said: “Of course it is unfortunate what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia, but again, we don’t control everything. We try, we will discuss, we will see. Maybe sometimes it is good to ‘chill’, relax, we work on everything. We try to solve everything. To immediately shout is the opposite to finding a solution.”
Somalia is one of 12 countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Trump. Infantino added that a “speedy process” for visas through the FIFA pass system had been organised with the American administration, though he admitted it might not be “working always with everyone”.
Artan spent Wednesday afternoon at a public event at Mogadishu Stadium, watching a match between Heegan and Dekadaha, determined to realise his ambition of refereeing at the 2030 World Cup.