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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