​FIFA Honors Salary of Somali Referee Denied US Entry Amid Security Dispute

​MOGADISHU — Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will receive his full tournament salary from FIFA, despite being blocked from entering the United States to officiate at the World Cup.

​Artan, who earned the prestigious title of Africa’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was on the verge of making history as the first Somali national to officiate at football’s premier global tournament. However, his historic milestone was cut short at the border. The Trump administration defended the exclusion, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection citing alleged “links to suspected members of terror organizations”—a claim that has sparked widespread debate and international backlash.

​Despite the U.S. government’s hardline stance, football’s global governing body has quietly moved to support the official. A source close to the matter confirmed that FIFA has committed to honoring Artan’s contract in full, ensuring he receives his complete tournament match fees regardless of his forced absence from the pitch.

​A Hero’s Welcome in Mogadishu

​The diplomatic friction surrounding his exclusion did little to dampen the spirits of football fans back home. Upon touching down in Mogadishu, Artan was greeted by hundreds of flag-waving supporters, local officials, and sports enthusiasts who treated his return as a triumph rather than a defeat.

​Addressing the roaring crowd, an emotional Artan expressed deep gratitude toward the Somali government, the public, and FIFA leadership for standing by him during the visa ordeal.

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​”I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” Artan told the crowd. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

​Infantino Calls for Calm Amid Outrage

​The incident has cast a shadow over the tournament’s kickoff, drawing sharp criticism from international sports bodies and human rights advocates who argue the ban was politically motivated.

​The controversy took center stage at a pre-tournament press conference in the United States, just hours before Wednesday’s opening match. When pressed on the ethical implications of a referee having his lifelong dream stripped away by border authorities, FIFA President Gianni Infantino attempted to defuse the growing tension.

​Infantino urged the media and member associations to “chill, relax,” maintaining that FIFA’s administrative teams operate tirelessly behind the scenes to resolve the complex logistical and geopolitical hurdles that inevitably shadow a tournament of this scale.

​While Artan will watch the tournament from the sidelines in Mogadishu, FIFA’s financial guarantee serves as a significant symbolic victory, signaling that the organization does not view the U.S. border decision as a reflection of the referee’s integrity.