Somalia referee Omar Ertan will receive full World Cup compensation despite being unable to officiate at the tournament after being banned from entering the United States, according to a person familiar with the matter.According to the Associated Press, Orton will be eligible for the same tournament fee he would have earned had he competed. The final amount is expected to be determined after the end of the World Cup next month.Arten, widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials, was chosen to referee at the World Cup after a stellar year in which he was named Africa’s Best Male Referee for 2025.However, his participation in the tournament ended before it began after he was denied entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week.According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Arton was considered “inadmissible due to screening concerns.”The 34-year-old had already been issued a visa to travel to the United States, according to the Somali embassy in Kenya, which handled the application process. He was due to join fellow World Cup referees at a training camp in Miami ahead of the tournament.FIFA later clarified that it had no role in immigration decisions and noted that the final decision on admission rested with the host country’s government. As a result, Orton was unable to participate in training activities or officiate any matches during the nearly six-week tournament.Despite the disappointment, Artan received a warm welcome on his return to Somalia earlier this week. The crowd welcomed him home, and the referee expressed his commitment to be part of the next World Cup in 2030, which is to be held mainly in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.Arten’s standing within the world game was further highlighted by his recent appointment to the UEFA Super Cup in August, one of European football’s marquee fixtures.“Football is designed to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect for Omar and his outstanding performance skills,” UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin said in a statement.While Arten’s World Cup chances were cut short due to immigration issues, the decision to honor his selection in full for the tournament and his selection for another major international assignment is indicative of the place in which he continues to be held within world football.
