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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Athena Freya

Who Is Omar Artan? Top African Referee Denied Entry to US Ahead of FIFA World Cup Despite Valid Visa Claims

Omar Artan Fifa Omar Abdulkadir Artan FIFA World Cup World Cup Africa United States a World Cup Football Somalia
Omar Artan's World Cup appointment ended after he was denied entry to the US (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/feguifoot)

The first Somali referee ever selected to officiate at a men's FIFA World Cup has been denied entry to the United States, ending his tournament involvement just days before kickoff.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, Africa's reigning Men's Referee of the Year, was stopped after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul and reportedly detained for around 11 hours before being placed on a return flight.

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