Somali referee denied US entry for World Cup will receive full FIFA fee

MIAMI — Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will be paid his full tournament fee.

The Trump administration said the United States had denied Artan entry for the World Cup because of his ​links to "suspected members of terror organizations."

President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies have been a point of concern for the World Cup, with Washington imposing ‌a sweeping travel ban last year on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

In December, Trump called Somali immigrants in Minnesota "garbage" and said he wanted them sent "back to where they came from."

A source familiar with the matter said even though Artan will take no part in the World Cup, FIFA has committed to paying his salary.

Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, was set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece, but was turned back by US Customs and Border Protection.

However, he returned home to a hero's welcome while European soccer body UEFA appointed him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between ​Paris St Germain and Aston Villa in August. — Reuters