Omar abdulkadir artan

FIFA World Cup: Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan due to officiate in the FIFA World Cup has been denied entry to the United States, according to an official from his country's sports ministry.

Artan was among the 52 referees announced by Fifa to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which runs from June 11 to July 19. He was set to be the first Somali referee to take charge of a game at the World Cup.

An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).