Amnesty condemns denial of entry to US for Somali World Cup referee
Amnesty International has condemned the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan by United States immigration authorities, describing the incident as further evidence that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is failing to live up to its promise of bringing the world together. Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament, said he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview at Miami International Airport before being denied entry to the United States despite holding what he described as the “right papers” and the “right visa.” Following the incident, FIFA removed Artan from its list of World Cup match officials on Monday, ending his historic opportunity to participate in football’s biggest tournament. Responding to the development, Amnesty International’s Head of Sport, Stephen Cockburn, said the case highlighted growing concerns over accessibility and inclusion at the tournament. Stephen Cockburn. Meanwhile, Iran’s alloca...