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.

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.

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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.

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In a statement, the committee praised Omar Artan for his achievements in African and international football, describing him as one of Somalia’s most respected sports officials and a symbol of the country’s growing presence on the global sporting stage accusing that the decision was discriminative against Omar Artan and stating “Our officials deserve to represent our flag without discrimination”.

The committee said the decision preventing the referee from entering the United States was disappointing for Somali sports supporters, particularly given his recent recognition and selection for major international competitions.

Officials from the Somalia Olympic Committee called for fairness and equal treatment for athletes and sports officials representing their countries at international events, stressing that sports should remain a platform that promotes unity and cooperation among nations.

Omar Artan had recently been selected among the referees expected to officiate at this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament in the United States. However, U.S. authorities reportedly denied him entry following additional immigration and security screening procedures upon his arrival.

The incident has sparked widespread reaction among Somali sports fans, with many expressing solidarity with the referee and describing his exclusion as a setback for Somali football representation on the international stage.

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According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Omar underwent additional screening upon arriving in Miami from Istanbul, Turkey.

A CBP spokesperson said the inspection was part of standard procedures used to verify travelers’ information and determine eligibility for entry into the United States. Officials later concluded that the Somali referee was not eligible to enter the country due to security-related concerns, leading to his denial of entry.

U.S. authorities did not provide further details regarding the specific reasons behind the decision. However, Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions and heightened immigration scrutiny introduced under the administration of President Donald Trump, resulting in stricter screening measures for travelers from those nations.

Omar Abdulkadir Aden was named Africa’s Best Male Referee in 2025 and had been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate matches at this year’s World Cup tournament.

FIFA stated that it has no authority over immigration procedures or visa decisions made by host countries. A spokesperson for the organization noted that the host government holds the final authority regarding visa approvals and permission for individuals to enter the country.

The incident comes amid broader concerns over entry restrictions affecting citizens from several countries, including Iran, as the Trump administration continues to tighten immigration and border security policies.

The development has sparked disappointment among Somali football supporters and sports observers, many of whom viewed Omar’s appointment as a historic achievement for Somali football on the international stage.

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