Somalia referee Omar Ertan received an emotional welcome after returning to Mogadishu on Wednesday, having been selected despite being denied entry to the United States. FIFA World Cup.Orton was on course to make history as Somalia’s first referee to oversee matches at the World Cup. The highly respected official was included in FIFA’s final list of tournament referees and is regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. His standing in the game was further highlighted when he was named Africa’s Best Male Referee in 2025.However, his World Cup dream came to an abrupt halt when he was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday. In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection said the decision was made due to “vetting concerns”, although no further details were provided. Following this development, FIFA removed Artan from the list of referees for the competition.The decision came despite Orton receiving a valid visa to travel to the United States. According to the Somali embassy in Kenya, which processed the application, the visa was issued last week.Back in Somalia, Artan was greeted at Mogadishu airport by government officials, supporters and well-wishers. Hundreds of people gathered to welcome the referee home, waving Somali flags and showing support after the disappointing turn of events.Addressing the crowd, Artan thanked the Somali government, the people of Somalia and FIFA for standing by him during this ordeal.“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next rally,” he said as hundreds of supporters waved Somali flags at the airport. “I want the Somali people to take comfort in this and be confident.”FIFA’s decision to deny entry to a designated World Cup referee drew international attention. The unusual move drew criticism in many quarters and raised questions among some supporters about America’s ability to host such a global sporting event.This incident also came in the background of strict immigration policies of the United States. Somalia is among 40 countries currently affected by new travel restrictions introduced as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown.
