Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan on Wednesday said the decision to bar him entry to the United States for the World Cup was "fate" and urged his fellow Somalis not to lose heart over it.
Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece, but was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend.
The Trump administration said on Tuesday the U.S. had denied Artan entry for the World Cup because of his links to "suspected members of terror organizations".
"What happened has happened and it was fate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me," Artan told reporters after arriving in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and urged his supporters to stand behind their country.
“Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country,” he said. "I am now in my country, and there is no other place I want to be."
At the airport in Mogadishu, he thanked the Somali government and people, as well as FIFA for their support. As hundreds of supporters waved the Somalian flag, he said:
"I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one. I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident."
Posted by Financial-Painter689
9 Comments
Eff FIFA. Eff this wretched WC. I shan’t be tuning in at all.
To still have such optimism in the face of injustice is just… I have no words to properly express my admiration for Omar Artan. In all seriousness though this is looking to be the worst world cup ever I’m actually dreading it
The way FIFA have abandoned him is absolutely shameful.
FIFA should’ve stepped in to support him but oh wait why am I not shocked that FIFA are soulless and corrupt
All this whilst having captains wear “Say no to racism” armbands. Fuck FIFA’s PR bullshit, fuck Infantino, fuck the world cup, fuck that fascist orange and his racist regime.
This story made me cry the other day when I saw the picture of him that he took with the caption “Miami bound.” I’m just so angry and upset with this country, how do we come back from this place that we’re in?
People should be blaming Infantino **more** for the insane levels of corruption and blatant disregard of *written* (ethics) rules and bylaws right now. Blatter was *nothing* against the utter shamelessness Infantino has been milking FIFA as a morally corrupt cash cow.
I swear to god whoever was incharge of issuing the visas for the world cup saw the word referee and read refugee.
I know it sounds too stupid to be true but try to remember that Donald Trump put podcast bros in charge of all the government institutions.
FIFA FAKE AF