The World Cup referee prevented from entering the United States has lost out on a big payday. Omar Artan, who was due to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport last weekend despite holding valid travel documentation.
FIFA have subsequently confirmed Artan has been removed from its roster of officials. The sport’s governing body maintained it was unable to intervene, stating that it was “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.” FIFA added: “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
The decision has sparked outrage ahead of a World Cup already mired in controversy before it has even begun. It has now been revealed that Artan would have been in line for one of the most lucrative paydays of his career had he been permitted to enter the US.
Referees are set to earn £75,000 from the first-ever 48-team World Cup, with officials overseeing knockout matches receiving additional payments, reports The Times. The referee for the final could receive up to £325,000.
Artan, who returned to his homeland to a hero’s reception, has responded to being excluded from the tournament, telling Reuters: “Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports and a former national team captain, told French news agency AFP: “Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches not only harms him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit and the spirit of fair play.”
Somalia is among the nations whose citizens are subject to an outright travel ban to the US, which came into force in June last year. Iran also features on the list. The Iranian squad will be headquartered in Mexico throughout the tournament, making brief trips across the border to play their group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
While all Iranian players have been granted the necessary visas, the country’s federation has revealed that 12 members of their backroom staff have been refused entry into the US ahead of the tournament.