Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup 2026 after he was refused entry to the United States. FIFA has officially confirmed this decision. This development means Africa’s top referee will be absent from the tournament, impacting the lineup of international officials for the event. The denial of entry prevents a recognized leading referee from participating. Artan, who is an award-winning Somali referee, was denied a US visa, which directly led to him being dropped from the World Cup officiating team.
Source: SkySports | Published: Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:55:32 GMT
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