{"id":35863,"date":"2026-06-10T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T08:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/10\/world-cup-referee-denied-entry-to-us-receives-heros-welcome-upon-return-to-somalia\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T08:00:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T08:00:47","slug":"world-cup-referee-denied-entry-to-us-receives-heros-welcome-upon-return-to-somalia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/10\/world-cup-referee-denied-entry-to-us-receives-heros-welcome-upon-return-to-somalia\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup referee denied entry to US, receives hero’s welcome upon return to Somalia"},"content":{"rendered":"


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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – A Somali World Cup referee who was denied entry to the United States arrived in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Wednesday and was greeted by a crowd of supporters and officials.<\/p>\n

Omar Artan was scheduled. First referee from Somalia<\/span> After being named to FIFA’s final list for the tournament, he will host the World Cup. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the African continent’s best male referee in 2025.<\/p>\n

He was denied entry Saturday at Miami International Airport due to “vetting concerns.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/span> said in a statement, without elaborating on those concerns. FIFA<\/span> after that cut him<\/span> From the tournament referee list.<\/p>\n

According to the Somali embassy in Kenya, which handled the formalities, Artan was granted a visa to travel to the United States last week.<\/p>\n

He returned to a hero’s welcome at the Mogadishu airport, thanking the Somali government and people and FIFA for their support to him.<\/p>\n

“God willing, I promise to attend the next convention,” he said as hundreds of supporters waved Somali flags at the airport. “I hope the people of Somalia remain reassured and confident about this.” The highly unusual move by the United States to deny FIFA-designated official entry permission to the World Cup host country for the matches sparked outrage around the world and raised questions among some fans about the United States’ ability to host the tournament.<\/p>\n

Somalia is one of about 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions under Trump administration immigration crackdown<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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