00:02The World Cup referee from Somalia, who was denied entry to the United States after arriving
00:08in Miami and subsequently cut from the tournament by FIFA, was set to make history for his country.
00:15Omar Artan was going to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after
00:20making FIFA's final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago.
00:24He is one of Africa's top referees and was named the continent's best male referee in
00:302025.
00:31The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country
00:37is highly unusual.
00:39Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.
00:44He told the New York Times he was interviewed at Miami Airport for 11 hours by border officials.
00:49He was then put in a holding cell and sent back on a plane to Istanbul, from where he'd
00:54taken his connecting flight to the United States.
00:57I feel very good now, and I wanted to thank FIFA for supporting me all the way, and Somalia
01:04people also.
01:05So I'm very grateful for FIFA and for CAF also, so this is what I had to say.
01:11FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration processes and was informed by U.S. authorities
01:16that Artan's status will not be changed at present.
01:24FIFA said it was not what he had to say.
01:28FIFA says it was not to say, no.
01:29FIFA said it was time to speak to you, and he said to me, and not to say the first
01:31time
01:31has been on this mission of India, but he said to me, even if he had to give his
01:31a benefit in the direction of the world.
01:31You
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