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What we know about the Somali referee turned away before the World Cup
Posted
June 12, 2026
Views
3,821
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49
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15
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1.67%
June 12, 2026
3,821
49
15
1.67%
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1:57Now PlayingOmar Artan was meant to be the first Somali referee to officiate at a #FIFAWorldCup. Instead, after landing in Miami, where the referees’ training base is, he says he was detained and questioned for 11 hours before being sent back home.
Artan is not an isolated case: 15 Iranian officials have also been denied entry to the U.S., according to Iranian state media, as has the official Iraqi team photographer. An Iraqi player, Aymen Hussein, and other teams say they have been subjected to intensive and sometimes invasive searches at the border as well.
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