Most people watching Curaçao play Ecuador focused on the team’s goalkeeper. For some fans in China, the draw was Ma Ning, the tournament’s highest-ranking Chinese referee.
“Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just chill, relax,” Gianni Infantino said of the U.S. denying entry to Somali referee Omar Artan.
“Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just chill, relax,” Gianni Infantino said of the U.S. denying entry to Somali referee Omar Artan.Open
A World Cup dream denied — Somali referee Omar Artan receives a hero's welcome at home after being blocked from entering the United States and taking part in the World Cup.
A World Cup dream denied — Somali referee Omar Artan receives a hero's welcome at home after being blocked from entering the United States and taking part in the World Cup.Open
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is widely admired in his home country, would have been the first Somali to referee a World Cup game.
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As the World Cup begins later this week, match officials and team members have faced enhanced immigration scrutiny when trying to enter the United States. A FIFA referee from Somalia was turned away.
As the World Cup begins later this week, match officials and team members have faced enhanced immigration scrutiny when trying to enter the United States. A FIFA referee from Somalia was turned away.Open
“I had the right papers and everything,” Omar Abdulkadir Artan said in his first interview since he was turned back. He would have been the first Somali to referee a game in the tournament.
Omar Artan was one of 52 referees selected for the FIFA World Cup. But on Saturday he was denied entry because of “vetting concerns,” U.S. officials said.
The referee was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry," a CBP spokesperson said, without going into further detail.