Somali referee denied US entry returns home to a hero's welcome
Somali referee Mohamed Artan, who had been assigned as a World Cup fourth official before his U.S. visa was revoked at the last minute, was met by thousands of supporters when he arrived in Mogadishu. The incident created an urgent agenda for African football federations. The U.S. State Department described the decision as individual and technical.
On landing at Aden Adde International Airport, Artan was greeted by Somali Football Federation president Abdiqani Said Arab and elected officials. According to BBC Sport, around five thousand people filled the streets to await the referee's passage. FIFA spokesperson Helene Pelosse confirmed that the process to keep Artan on duty for other matches was ongoing.
Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi delivered an official note conveying the visa cancellation to the U.S. Embassy. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the case had been decided on individual technical grounds and that no indirect message had been sent to the federation. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) called for an urgent meeting.
Artan said in a press conference that his documents were complete and that he would keep the judicial route open. The federation announced it remains in contact with FIFA so that Artan can keep his fourth-official role at the Asia-Pacific group matches. The CAF General Assembly will meet in Cairo next week to address visa policies.
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