MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Somali government has confirmed that multiple diplomatic efforts to resolve the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States, were unsuccessful.
In a written statement issued by Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the government said it launched extensive diplomatic engagements after learning that the referee had encountered problems related to his admission into the United States.
“After it became known that referee Omar Artan faced challenges related to entry into the United States (Entry Denied), the Ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, carried out broad diplomatic efforts and negotiations with the U.S. government and FIFA to find an urgent solution to the matter. Unfortunately, despite those significant efforts, it was not possible to reach a resolution,” the statement said.
The Somali government expressed deep regret over the circumstances that prevented Omar Artan from participating in the FIFA World Cup tournament set to open in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The incident has sparked disappointment among Somali sports officials and football supporters, many of whom viewed Omar Artan’s participation as a historic milestone for Somali refereeing on the international stage.
Omar Artan had recently been selected among the African referees expected to officiate at the tournament after earning recognition as one of the continent’s top football officials.
