Canadian Leaders and Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn Back Somali FIFA Referee Omar Artan After U.S. Entry Denial

Staff Reporter

5 hours ago

Canadian Leaders and Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn Back Somali FIFA Referee Omar Artan After U.S. Entry Denial

MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Senior Canadian political leaders and former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn have voiced support for Somali FIFA referee Omar Artan following the decision by U.S. authorities to deny him entry ahead of the international football tournament taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Ontario opposition leader Marit Stiles, and British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed disappointment over the decision and called for Omar Artan to be allowed to officiate matches scheduled to take place in Canada during the tournament.

Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also joined growing international calls supporting the Somali referee, with supporters arguing that sports should not be overshadowed by political or immigration disputes.

“A FIFA-certified referee being denied entry to the United States purely because he is Somali. The World Cup is meant to bring people together. This is racism, plain and simple,” Corbyn said in a statement shared widely on social media.

Support for Omar Artan has spread widely across social media and international news platforms, with many describing the incident as damaging to the spirit of global sportsmanship and international unity promoted through football.

Many football fans and public figures have argued that international sporting competitions should remain inclusive and free from barriers that prevent qualified officials and athletes from participating.

Artan, who has been appointed by FIFA as one of the match officials for the tournament, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport and returned to Istanbul. U.S. authorities have not publicly commented on the specific reasons for his denial of entry, though Somalia is among countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under existing U.S. immigration policy.

The Somali referee’s case has triggered international attention, with sports officials and political figures questioning how immigration rules could impact officials participating in global sporting events.

Artan made history earlier this year when FIFA selected him as the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals. He has built a strong reputation in African football and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.

Somali sports officials have expressed disappointment, saying Artan represents years of professional dedication and national pride. They also confirmed efforts were made to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels, but no resolution was reached.

Meanwhile, Omar Artan has arrived in Mogadishu today, where members of Somalia’s sporting community and football supporters welcomed the referee, who is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading football officials.

The controversy surrounding his denied entry has sparked widespread debate internationally and drawn attention to the broader impact of immigration restrictions on global sporting events.