![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
A senior U.S. official has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States due to his “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
Artan, named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Best Male Referee of the Year for 2025 and set to become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport on June 6 despite holding a valid visa.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to visa privacy laws. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, earlier described the refusal as for “very good reason” without providing specifics. U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited “vetting concerns” in its statement.
Artan underwent 11 hours of questioning about his travel reasons, Somali politics, and the al-Shabab militant group. He presented FIFA documents and career photos before being held and placed on a flight back to Istanbul. He is now returning home to Somalia.
Artan expressed deep disappointment in interviews from Istanbul. “I think that they have a problem with my country,” he told The New York Times, adding that he had all correct documents. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life.” He said he remains in good spirits and focused on his career despite the setback.
FIFA confirmed that Artan has been removed from the list of match officials and will be unable to train or officiate at the 2026 World Cup, which begins this week. “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes,” the governing body stated. The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry said its embassy is working to understand the situation, though no resolution has emerged.
The case is highly unusual for a FIFA-appointed official at a World Cup. Somalia is among nearly 40 countries facing tightened U.S. travel restrictions. Concerns have grown that the policy could impact players, officials, and fans from listed nations despite valid visas.