FIFA compensates Somali referee Artan for World Cup ban

FIFA will compensate Somali referee Omar Abdelkader Artan for being banned from the 2026 World Cup after US authorities denied him entry into the country.

Artan (34) was in the running to become the first Somali referee at the World Cup, after FIFA selected him as the official referee for the tournament.

Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on June 8 with a valid entry visa and diplomatic passport, but was denied entry by US immigration authorities for “security-related reasons”.

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After consultations with the American authorities, FIFA announced that Artan will not be able to participate in the tournament.

However, FIFA has confirmed that it will pay Artan’s full salary for the World Cup (estimated at around $100,000 including bonuses) in recognition of his selection as one of the referees and as compensation for the circumstances that prevented him from participating, reports talkSPORT.

It is noteworthy that Artan received the award of the best referee in Africa in 2025. He was appointed by the European Football Association (UEFA) to referee the PSG-Aston Villa European Super Cup match on 12 August, as a way to relieve him after being eliminated from the World Cup.