Somali referee Omar Artan has been refused entry to the United States and forced to return home despite being selected to officiate at the World Cup finals.
Artan, who was due to break new ground as the first Somali referee to take part in football's grandest stage, was denied entry after arriving to Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday.
"During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," US Customs and Border Protection said in its statement.
"Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."
FIFA confirmed later on Monday that Artan wouldn't be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.
