๐๐๐ง๐ฒ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ณ๐๐ฌ ๐.๐. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง
President William Ruto joins growing calls across Africa for a review of the U.S. decision that prevented award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan from participating in FIFA World Cup 2026 activities.
Overview
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ง๐ฒ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ณ๐๐ฌ ๐.๐. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง
MOGADISHU/NAIROBI โ Kenyan President William Ruto has criticized the United States following reports that internationally recognized Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the country, preventing his participation in FIFA World Cup 2026-related activities.
Artan, who was named Africaโs Best Referee in 2025, was reportedly turned back upon arrival at Miami International Airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials raised concerns during security and background screening procedures.
The Somali referee, who was traveling on a diplomatic passport, was subsequently returned to Ankara, Tรผrkiye. The decision has generated significant reactions across Africa, with political leaders and sports officials expressing concern over the implications for African participation in major international sporting events.
Speaking on the issue, President William Ruto described the move as unfair and called for equal treatment of African sports professionals on the global stage. He stated that the incident undermines the achievements and contributions of African referees and athletes who have worked hard to earn international recognition.
The incident has also drawn criticism from several African leaders and members of the sporting community, many of whom have called for a review of the decision and greater transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding the denial of entry.
Despite the setback, Artan returned to Somalia and received a warm welcome in Mogadishu from supporters, colleagues, and government officials. He had been expected to make history as one of the first Somali referees to officiate at the highest level of world football.
The development continues to attract attention across Africa, where many observers are closely following the case and its potential implications for future international sporting events.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐: ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ฅ: ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ@๐ก๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ.๐จ๐ซ๐ ยฉ ๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค. ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐.