Somali soccer referee denied US entry, will miss World Cup debut
Key takeaways
- Add ARY News on Google AAResize The United States has denied entry to soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a match in the World Cup.
- A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the World Cup — which kicks off on Thursday — after he was not allowed to enter the United States over the weekend.
- Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the U.S. and FIFA so that Artan could enter the country and it was saddened by what had happened.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize The United States has denied entry to soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a match in the World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the World Cup — which kicks off on Thursday — after he was not allowed to enter the United States over the weekend.
Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the U.S. and FIFA so that Artan could enter the country and it was saddened by what had happened. “His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people,” Somalia’s sports ministry said in a statement.