Somali referee to get World Cup salary after being refused entry to US (opens original article in a new tab)

Somali football referee was denied entry to US for World Cup due to alleged terror links but will receive full tournament fee from Fifa, sparking international reaction.

• Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied US entry for World Cup due to alleged terror links
• Fifa will pay Artan full tournament fee despite being barred from entering US
• Artan was named Africa's referee of the year in 2025 and received hero's welcome in Mogadishu