Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu and vowed to take part in the next tournament in 2030.
Thousands turned out to support him at Mogadishu’s national stadium, chanting “Victory to Omar, Victory to Somalia!”, as he was hoisted onto supporters’ shoulders to wave, Somalia’s national flag draped over his shoulders and a grin across his face.
“I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud… Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged,” Artan told journalists earlier at the city’s main airport, as crowds waved national flags.
Artan’s rejection has sparked outrage at home.
‘Wronged in a way that hurts everybody’
“They wronged him in a way that hurts everybody that is concerned about humanity,” Mohamed Said, a Mogadishu government official, said at the airport.
In a statement, the ministry of foreign affairs said it would “continue engaging with relevant partners to seek further clarification regarding this matter and to safeguard the dignity and rights of its citizens.”
Artan, who in 2025 was named men’s referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.
A US State Department official told AFP late on Tuesday that the referee was “associated with suspected members” of an outlawed group, therefore “making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States.”
Struck out of World referees’ team
FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup set to start on Thursday.
Artan’s appointment to the 52-strong roster of referees for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States had been a huge source of pride for his compatriots.
The government had urged people to turn up to Mogadishu stadium to show their support. By late afternoon the arena was packed with Somali citizens – bedecked in Somalia’s national colours of blue and white – who bounded to their feet, applauding wildly, and chanted Artan’s name.
“We share the pain and frustration experienced by referee Omar as a result of the difficulties he has faced,” Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to the sports ministry, told AFP.
‘More could have been done’
National referee Sayid Ali said the incident had affected them all deeply, telling AFP: “There is nothing in Omar’s professional record that could justify preventing him from carrying out his duties.”
Mustafa Mahad called the US decision “unjust”, and said he had travelled to the stadium to show his support.
While he thanked FIFA for their support, he echoed wider sentiments when he told AFP that “many of us feel that more could have been done.”
