2026 World Cup: The Omar Artan affair sparks outrage

World Cup 2026 Today at 16:30

Mohamed Rek

News Editor

The decision by U.S. authorities to deny entry to Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan (34), who was set to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, has unleashed a wave of indignation across the sporting and media landscapes.

A decision under fire

Among the most prominent voices condemning the move is former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She blasted the decision as being at odds with the spirit of a global event like the World Cup:

"As host of the World Cup, the United States should not casually block officials from entering the country to do their jobs. This is terribly regressive. It's also counterproductive. Global sporting competitions should promote exchange and international relations, not the opposite."

Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright also voiced his disbelief: "I've just learned that the Somali referee was barred from entering the United States. Every few hours, there's a new story about fans, players, or journalists being turned away, and now it's the referees who are affected."

He added: "This is supposed to be a World Cup, but it risks turning into a World Cup of chaos. The team that lifts the trophy will have to overcome a mountain of obstacles to get there."

For her part, former international referee Christina Unkel argued that this affair flies in the face of football's core values and the spirit of openness the game embodies.

Former captain of the Somali national team, Ciise Aden Abshir, denounced what he called a blatant injustice against one of Africa's top referees.

A leading referee in Africa

It's worth noting that Omar Artan is regarded as one of Africa's most respected referees. He notably officiated at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before being named African Referee of the Year in 2025.

Turned away from the United States, Omar Artan reveals the reason for his exclusion from the 2026 World Cup

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