Somali referee Omar Abdulqadir Artan, set to make history as the first from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 tournament. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and valid FIFA accreditation, US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport refused him entry and sent him back. He is currently in transit at Istanbul Airport. The US Customs and Border Protection has not clarified the reason for the denial, though American media have linked it to the Trump administration’s travel ban affecting several countries, including Somalia.
Following emergency discussions with US officials, FIFA confirmed that Artan will not be able to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. The organization stated it has no authority over host nation visa or immigration decisions. Somalia’s Football Federation and Sports Ministry have expressed strong anger over the incident, calling it a humiliating setback. Fans on social media have condemned the decision as political interference in sports.
স্পোর্টস ডেস্ক প্রকাশ : ০৯ জুন ২০২৬, ১১: ৫৯আপডেট : ০৯ জুন ২০২৬, ১২: ১৫ ফিফা বিশ্বকাপের ইতিহাসে প্রথম সোমালিয়ান রেফারি হিসেবে ম্যাচ পরিচালনা করার সমস্ত প্রস্তুতি সম্পন্ন ছিল তার। কিন্তু শেষ মুহূর্তে ট্রাম্প প্রশাসনের কঠোর অভিবাসন নীতির বেড়াজালে আটকে গ
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