Somali referee Artan has expressed disappointment after being denied entry into the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup despite possessing what he described as valid travel documents and a visa.
According to Artan, he was separated from other travelers after arriving in the US and taken to a holding area where he was detained for several hours before eventually being placed on a return flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Speaking in a telephone interview with the New York Times on Tuesday from Turkey, the referee said he was devastated by the experience, describing the World Cup assignment as the biggest opportunity of his career.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup,” Artan said.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” he added.
Reacting to the development, FIFA stated that it had no authority over immigration decisions made by host countries, noting that visa approvals and entry permissions remain the responsibility of national governments.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Artan was denied entry after undergoing routine inspection procedures.
“Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry,” the agency stated.
The Somali government also reacted to the incident, expressing disappointment over Artan’s exclusion from the tournament.
In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Sports described the referee as a symbol of the country’s sporting talent and potential.
“Artan represents the very best of Somali talent,” the ministry said.
The incident has sparked conversations online about visa policies and the treatment of international sports officials ahead of major global tournaments hosted by the United States.
