Suspicion of terrorism: Why Somalia’s referee was denied US entry

Entry denied: connections to terrorist organization?

The check at the airport in Miami revealed that Artan had “connections to suspected members of terrorist organizations,” an unnamed US government official told the news station CNN with. He didn’t give any details.

Tighter entry regulations under Trump

Somalia is one of the 39 states whose nationals are subject to the stricter entry regulations the US administration of President Donald Trump are affected. Citizens of these countries are subject to additional checks upon entry. In the Artan case, the border protection agency CBP cited “concerns in the context of the security clearance” without providing further details.

Omar Artan “very, very disappointed”

Artan was 2025 as Africa’s best male referee been awarded. The African Football Confederation had selected him as one of seven African referees for this year’s World Cup. He would have been the first Somali to referee a World Cup.

After being refused entry into the USA, Artan was “very, very disappointed”. He didn’t make any formal mistakes: “I had the right papers and everything else. I had that correct visa.”

Questions about the terrorist militia Al-Shabaab

Artan had traveled via Nairobi and Istanbul and wanted to enter the USA in Miami on Saturday. US border officials questioned him about his trip and the political situation in Somalia, especially the Islamist terrorist militia Al-Shabaabwhich is active in parts of the country and has been fighting against the Somali government for years.

The Somali government immediately contacted the US authorities and FIFA, but so far no solution found. FIFA announced that the host country had the right to decide on visa allocation.