FOOTBALL – THE United States has denied entry to football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a match in the World Cup.
A Fifa spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the World Cup - which kicks off tomorrow - after he was not allowed to enter the United States over the weekend.
Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US and Fifa so that Artan could enter the country and it was saddened by what had happened.
“His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people,” Somalia’s sports ministry said in a statement.
In a Press release issued yesterday, the Somali Football Federation expressed sadness over the situation, calling Artan’s appointment a milestone for the country that resulted from years of dedication, professionalism and integrity.
The SFF said it has not received an official explanation as to why Artan was denied entry to the US, adding that it is working closely with Fifa and the relevant authorities to understand the circumstances of the situation.
A senior Somali official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts were continuing to try to get Artan into the US for the tournament, but declined to share further details.
A Fifa spokesperson said the organisation “is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present”.
Artan said in a statement that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.