Somali referee Omar Artan will not officiate at the FIFA World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection stopped
him at Miami International Airport on Saturday, after he arrived from Istanbul, and later ruled him inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
CBP confirmed on Monday that a Somali national, scheduled to referee at the World Cup, had been denied entry. The agency did not name Artan. However, he is the only World Cup referee from Somalia, and FIFA later confirmed that he will miss training and match duties.
FIFA said it had been informed that Artan's status would not change. The body stressed it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa decisions. It noted that, as with earlier FIFA events, the host government decides who receives a visa and who can enter.
CBP cites vetting concerns and standard inspection process
CBP issued a detailed statement on its decision. The agency said Artan went through additional inspection, which it described as a routine part of its process. Officers used that stage to verify his information and assess admissibility under US law and security procedures.
After inspection, CBP determined the traveller, described as a FIFA World Cup referee, was inadmissible due to vetting concerns. The statement did not specify those concerns. CBP added that all travellers, including athletes, coaches and staff, are subject to the same inspection and vetting rules.
CBP said admissibility decisions are made case by case, using law enforcement, national security and immigration data available at the time. The agency stated that its officers have authority to question travellers, run inspections, and decide entry status in line with US law and regulations.
