Somali referee denied US entry for World Cup will still get paid
Quick Look
- Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US for the World Cup after an 11-hour interrogation regarding alleged terror group associations.
- Despite being sent back to Somalia, FIFA has committed to paying his full tournament fee.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Somali referee Omar Artan was detained and denied entry to the US for the World Cup due to alleged links with terror organizations, despite holding necessary travel documents.
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee.
Artan was interrogated for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport on Monday before being told he would not be allowed into the country after his diplomatic passport and single entry US visa were rejected.
A US government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of an alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations".
Artan said he had been questioned by border officials over his links to Somali militant group Al Shabab and had told them he knew nothing about the organisation.
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," said Artan.
"I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
After being put back on a plane to Turkey, Artan received assistance from Fifa officials in Istanbul before boarding a flight to the Somali capital Mogadishu.
Sources told BBC Sport that even though Artan will take no part in the World Cup, Fifa has committed to paying his salary.
Referees do not know the actual fee they will receive for officiating at the World Cup, which is paid after the tournament is over.
Open Questions
- What specific evidence led to the terror association claims?
- Will there be any repercussions for the immigration authorities' decision?
- What is the exact amount of the tournament fee?
