World Cup referee Omar Artan denied US entry over alleged links to terror organisations

The Mirror ^ | 10 Jun 2026 | Felix Keith, Joshua Mbu

[MinorityRepublican]

Omar Artan was refused entry to the United States to work as a referee at the World Cup due to alleged links to terrorism, the Trump administration has said.

Artan is widely considered to be Africa's finest referee, but was removed from FIFA's list for the tournament after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) turned him away at Miami International Airport. The 34-year-old from Somalia was put on a return flight to Turkey, where he had been in transit from Kenya.

Speaking to the New York Times, Artan said he was "very disappointed" by the decision. "I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," Artan added.

The Trump administration has since moved to justify its decision to bar Artan from entering the country. "This individual was seeking admission to the United States," a statement from an administration official said, as reported by the Mirror US.

"Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations, was discovered, making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

"The traveller was refused admission and given immigration forms that provide the section of law used to complete an expedited removal under 8235 of the INA. President Trump's administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country - full stop."

---

TOPICS:
KEYWORDS:

[FlingWingFlyer]

ROTFL! GOAL!!!!!! GOAL!!!!

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

So the lightbulb head is a jihadi. Color me shocked.

[Leaning Right]

> Omar Artan was refused entry to the United States <

[FrdmLvr]

Is this what you voted for???

YES!!!!!!

[Texas Eagle]

Artan is widely considered to be Africa's finest referee,

Thbbbbbbbt! Big whoop. That's like being named the tallest midget in Norway.

[Gay State Conservative]

I saw that Iran is one of the competitors. Why are they being allowed in?

[jerod]

I’m confused... Is he a terrorist who works part-time as a soccer referee... Or is he a socker referee who works part-time as a terrorist???

Either way... Refusing him entry seems sensible.

[HYPOCRACY]

“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” Artan added”

Somalis never lear.

[Made In The USA]

If we haven’t already, just ban all immigration from Somalia.

Low IQ, muzz rage fueled, fraudsters offer nothing of value. As for the percentage that are the exception- go fix your own country.

[Ge0ffrey]

Sounds like winning to me.

[canuck_conservative]

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," Artan added

Notice how he carefully refuses to say he had "nothing to do with terrorists", which is the real issue here

[JSM_Liberty]

“Why are they being allowed in?”

Because they qualified for the competition

[HIDEK6]

Artan is widely considered to be Africa's finest referee,

... damned with faint praise.

[Gay State Conservative]

And there’s no chance that one...or more...of the team members are working for the 9th Century savages currently ruling Iran?

[kawhill]

I watched about 3 minutes of a soccer game last night; soccer, most boring game ever.