A Somali football referee has been denied entry into the United States, resulting in his exclusion from officiating duties at the upcoming World Cup, according to statements from border authorities and football’s global governing body. The incident involves Somali referee Omar Artan, who was stopped at Miami International Airport after arriving from Istanbul on Saturday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that a Somali national scheduled to serve as a World Cup referee was deemed inadmissible following additional inspection procedures conducted during routine vetting checks. CBP said the decision was based on unspecified “vetting concerns,” noting that all international travelers, including athletes, coaches, and officials, are subject to inspection and admissibility determinations.

The agency added that officers are authorized to conduct detailed questioning and review law enforcement and national security databases before making entry decisions under U.S. law. Following the incident, the FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer participate in training or officiating duties at the World Cup. The governing body clarified that visa and entry approvals fall under the jurisdiction of the host nation, and that it was informed by authorities that his entry status would not be changed.

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In a statement released through FIFA, Artan expressed disappointment but said he remained focused on his refereeing career and future opportunities. He thanked FIFA and the Confederation of African Football for their support and extended good wishes to his colleagues participating in the tournament.

The development has drawn attention to the strict immigration and vetting procedures applied to international sporting personnel entering the United States. While CBP emphasized that its decisions are made on a case-by-case basis using available intelligence and immigration records, the ruling effectively ends Artan’s participation in one of football’s most high-profile global events.

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