Sunday, June 14Sunday, June 147 days · 8 summary articles
FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Artan his full World Cup salary after US border officials refused him entry on Saturday, the world football governing body confirmed on Sunday.
Artan, 34, was barred from entering the United States on Friday at Miami International Airport under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the government to block non-citizens deemed to pose a national security risk. Border officials cited his “association with suspected members of terror organisations,” according to documents seen by Euronews . The refusal came despite Artan holding a valid B-1/B-2 visa issued by the US consulate in Nairobi on 3 June 2026.
FIFA’s decision, communicated on Sunday morning, means Artan will receive the full tournament fee he would have earned had he officiated at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on 11 June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The payment covers his base salary, match fees, and allowances, totalling approximately $70,000, according to figures published by the Independent . A FIFA spokesperson told the BBC that the governing body considers the refusal “a breach of the referee’s contractual obligations and an affront to the integrity of the tournament.”
The incident has drawn criticism from human rights groups and football federations. The Somali Football Federation issued a statement on Saturday condemning the entry denial as “discriminatory and unfounded,” noting that Artan has undergone multiple FIFA vetting procedures and holds a clean record . Amnesty International called the decision “a dangerous precedent for athletes and officials from predominantly Muslim countries.”
Artan was scheduled to officiate his first World Cup match on Tuesday in Atlanta, where Portugal face the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Instead, the game will now be refereed by Abdulrahman Al Jassim of Qatar, who was appointed by FIFA on Sunday morning .
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is expected to address the issue during a press conference in New York on Monday. In the meantime, the incident has intensified scrutiny over US visa policies for international sporting events, with several federations privately expressing concerns about the reliability of travel assurances for officials and players.
Edgar Cedrés, el campanero que redobló para el Papa León XIV...y que da el tiempo en la Televisión Canaria La última campana que escuchó León XIV en España llegó de la mano de un joven que vive entre isobaras e iglesias. Acumula más de 80 proyectos en las islas, no sin afrontar innumerables obstáculos. "Siempre me dicen que no hay dinero para las campanas" Leer
elmundo · about 2 hours ago
¿Por qué he jurado la Bandera de España? Adam Casals, delegado exterior de la Generalitat de Cataluña entre 2015 y 2017, coincidiendo con el procés, explica en esta tribuna por qué ha expresado fidelidad y lealtad a la Nación a través de este acto solemne Leer
elmundo · about 2 hours ago
After refused entry into US, Somali referee Omar Artan will be paid full World Cup fee by FIFA Full tournament salary will be paid to Somali referee Omar Artan by FIFA after his entry into the US was refused by border officials over "association with suspected membres of terror organisations".
euronews · about 2 hours ago
Árbitro do Qatar dirige jogo entre Portugal e RD Congo Abdulrahman Al Jassim, de 38 anos, é internacional desde 2013 e esteve presente no Mundial 2022
observador · about 2 hours ago
16h. Já é conhecido o árbitro do primeiro jogo da seleção Abdulrahman Al Jassim, de 38 anos, é natural do Catar e foi nomeado pela FIFA para arbitrar a estreia de Portugal no Grupo K. E oito distritos estão sob aviso amarelo devido a aguaceiros e trovoada.
observador · about 2 hours ago
Μουντιάλ 2026: Θα αποζημιωθεί από την FIFA ο Σομαλός διαιτητής που του απαγορεύτηκε η είσοδος στις ΗΠΑ Ο Ομάρ Αρτάν όπως αναφέρει το BBC θα λάβει κανονικά τα χρήματα που θα κέρδιζε εάν σφύριζε στο Μουντιάλ
protothema · about 2 hours ago
El árbitro somalí al que se le negó la entrada a Estados Unidos recibirá todos sus honorarios de la FIFA Fue vetado por sus vínculos con presuntos miembros de organizaciones terroristas
la vanguardia · about 2 hours ago
Espero que nos encontremos con Lamine Yamal en una final para aclararle si eligió bien El presidente de la Federación de Marruecos calienta el debut de España con estas provocadoras declaraciones
la vanguardia · about 2 hours ago
Ferran Torres: No hay que frenar a Lamine, tiene mucha energía y hay que dejarle fluir El delantero de la selección española se muestra tranquilo antes del debut en el Mundial
la vanguardia · about 2 hours ago
World Cup referee Omar Artan will receive full fee from FIFA despite being denied entry to the US The Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup will still be paid his full tournament fee
independent · about 3 hours ago
Die Gier der FIFA: Abpfiff für Normalverdiener Die WM 2026 bricht Rekorde – vor allem beim Abkassieren: Wer nicht zahlen kann, bleibt draußen. FIFA-Präsident Gianni Infantino nennt es Marktwirtschaft.
faz · about 3 hours ago
Live - Koning Filip belt met Rode Duivels • Somalische scheidsrechter die VS niet binnen mocht, wordt wel vergoed door FIFA
de morgen · about 3 hours ago