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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Greg Beacham

Somali referee Omar Artan refused entry to US and will miss World Cup

Omar Artan United States World Cup
  • Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Saturday.
  • CBP confirmed the denial on Monday, stating the referee, who was scheduled to officiate at the World Cup, was deemed "inadmissible due to vetting concerns" following an inspection.
  • Separately, Iran's World Cup team arrived in Mexico this weekend wearing lapel pins bearing the number "168".
  • The pins paid tribute to the 168 victims, predominantly children, of a missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, Iran, in February, an attack widely attributed to the US .
  • This gesture follows a similar tribute in March when the team displayed school backpacks during their national anthem to highlight the same incident.

IN FULL

World Cup 2026: African referee denied entry into the United States by border control

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