Yahoo Sports reports: Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday."FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," the spokesperson told AFP. FIFA emphasized that it was powerless to influence the decision, which it said was the sole preserve o
sports | sports | Yahoo Sports | June 9, 2026 2:37 AM
Somali referee axed from World Cup after being denied entry to US
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday."FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," the spokesperson told AFP. FIFA emphasized that it was powerless to influence the decision, which it said was the sole preserve o
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