FIFA Removes Somali Referee from 2026 World Cup Panel After US Visa Denial
Published . Category: Sports.
FIFA has dropped Somali referee Omar Artan from its 2026 World Cup officiating list after the United States denied him entry, sources confirmed Tuesday. Artan,…
FIFA has dropped Somali referee Omar Artan from its 2026 World Cup officiating list after the United States denied him entry, sources confirmed Tuesday. Artan, 35, was one of Africa’s top officials and had been selected as part of the initial 104-referee shortlist for the tournament co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada. He officiated at AFCON 2023 and several CAF Champions League games, and was widely tipped to get World Cup matches. The US State Department did not give a public reason for denyi…