Khalid Ahmed Seeraar

Researcher | Community Leader | Good Governance Advocate | Pan-Africanist | Working toward positive change through research, leadership, and pan-African unity.

[The Washington Post @washingtonpost]

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was named Africa’s best men’s referee last year, was welcomed by supporters upon arrival in Mogadishu, Somalia, after being denied entry to the U.S. Read more: https://t.co/3eWCS8MXLn

[Mowliid Haji Abdi @MowliidHaji]

"Suspected"

I asked a legal expert about this matter, and he said:

"Omar Artan should take steps to clear his name and protect his reputation. He should consult experienced attorneys and consider filing a legal case against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the relevant immigration authorities. It is possible that someone with a similar name is on a list of individuals barred from entering the United States. If it turns out that he was wrongly denied entry due to an administrative or identification error, he could have strong grounds to seek compensation and a formal apology."

#OmarArtan

[Kennedy Wandera @KennedyWandera_]

Somali🇸🇴 soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir #Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, says the decision to bar him entry to the United ‌States for the World Cup was "fate" and urged his fellow Somalis not to lose heart over it.

"What happened has happened and it was fate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me," Artan told reporters after arriving in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

“Somalia is ​ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country,” he says. "I am now in my country, and there is no other place I want to be."

Somalia's government said it had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate ​with the U.S. ⁠and FIFA so that Artan could enter the U.S. and was saddened by what had happened.

The 34-year-old referee who had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece, was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.

But was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend over what it termed as “vetting concerns”.

U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada, and Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.

After being questioned, he was put in a holding cell and sent back on a plane to Istanbul, Turkey, from where he'd taken his connecting flight to the US.

“I think that they have a problem with my country,” Artan told The New York Times.

FIFA subsequently cut him from the tournament’s referee list.

The U.S.'s highly unusual move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country drew outrage across the world and raised questions among some fans about America’s capacity to host the competition.

Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

Source: @Reuters, @AP.

[L'Équipe @lequipe]

Omar Artan, refoulé par les USA lors de son arrivée pour la Coupe du monde, accueilli en héros en Somalie

[Kenyans.co.ke @Kenyans]

Thousands of Somali residents fill stadium to welcome FIFA referee Omar Artan after being denied entry into the U.S. to officiate the 2026 World Cup

[Sophie Mokoena @Sophie_Mokoena]

World Cup 2026.

[Collins Okinyo @bedjosessien]

Referee Mohamed Atan got a hero's welcome back in Somalia 🇸🇴 they might think they have broken him but they have created a new hero with many open doors for opportunities.

When one door closes another opens.He remains the best 👌referee from Africa
@soka25east

[CBS News @CBSNews]

Somali referee Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome in his home country on Wednesday after being denied entry to the U.S. to officiate at the World Cup.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited "vetting concerns" as the reason for denying the referee entry over the weekend.

[African @ali_naka]

His name is Omar Artan @realDonaldTrump @FIFAcom

The Face of World Cup 2026

[Rep. Ilhan Omar @Ilhan]

In Minnesota, we are resilient. We are courageous. And we will not be intimidated by a fraudster president who reaches for the same old playbook of lies, racism, and deflection every time his administration fails to deliver for the American people.

[Hodan Ali @hodansomali]

Both Somali.

Both self made.

Both made history at FIFA.

Unstable people despite every obstacle thrown at us.

Mogadishu thank you for showing Judge/Referee #OmarArtan some love today.

#🇸🇴Hanoolaato

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

Cumar Artan ma gaarin #FIFAWorldCup oo keliya. Wuxuu taariikh dhigay isagoo noqday garsoorihii kubadda cagta ugu horreeyay ee Soomaaliyeed ee halkaas gaara, isla markaana ka mid ah garsoorayaasha ugu wanaagsan #Afrika. Guushaas cidina kama qaadi karto, wax kasta ha dhacaane.
Cumar, aad baan uga xumahay waxa dhacay. Waxaad gaartay heerka ugu sarreeya ee xirfaddaada, waxaadna dhiirrigelisay jiil dalka jooga adigoo halkaas gaaray. In lagaa hor istaagay fursaddii aad u qalantay ma beddelayso taas.
Tani ma noqon doonto halka ay ku dhammaato sheekadaadu. Dunidu way ku garab taagan tahay, waxayna kuu rajaynaysaa samir, adkaysi, iyo in aad mar kale garsoorto kulamo waaweyn oo caalami ah.
Waan ku garab taaganahay, Cumar.
#Somalia

[Gustavo Petro @petrogustavo]

En un mundial de fútbol jamás se debió haber excluido una persona por el color de su piel, como al árbitro Omar Artan

[African @ali_naka]

“If the USA didn't want other Countries citizens in the US they shouldn't have bid for the Fifa world cup 2026” Didier Drogba

[Stunner @invertCucurella]

🚨BREAKING: Didier Drogba says if the USA didn't want other Countries citizens in the US they shouldn't have bid for the Fifa world cup 2026 and says denial of Iran supporters and Somali referee Omar Artan is totally unacceptable, Football should be separated from politics

"When a country bids to host the biggest football tournament on the planet, it knows exactly what comes with it. Players, referees, officials and supporters from every corner of the world are part of the package."

"I look at the situation involving Somali referee Omar Artan and I feel disappointed for him. FIFA selected him because he earned that opportunity on merit, yet he was unable to participate after being denied entry."

"Then you hear about Iran's football federation claiming that its supporter ticket allocation was withdrawn just days before the tournament. If true, that leaves ordinary fans paying the price for issues that have nothing to do with football."

"The people suffering are not politicians. They're supporters who save money for years hoping to follow their national team at a World Cup."

"Football has always been one of the few things capable of bringing different cultures together. The moment politics starts deciding who gets to be part of that experience, everyone loses."

"I played in World Cups and international tournaments. The beauty of those events is seeing supporters from dozens of countries sharing the same streets, the same stadiums and the same passion."

"No fan should be judged because of their nationality, and no referee should miss the biggest moment of his career because of political circumstances beyond his control."

"FIFA, governments and football authorities need to find solutions because the headlines right now are about visas, travel restrictions and disputes instead of the football itself."

"The World Cup should belong to the world. That's what makes it special. The game must always come first, and politics should never be allowed to overshadow football's greatest celebration."

[Dr.Sam Youssef Ph.D.,Ph.D.,DPT. @drhossamsamy65]

⛔️⛔️ EXCLUSIVE: Ruud Gullit calls on Gianni Infantino to resign amid growing World Cup controversy‼️

"I have stayed quiet for a long time because I wanted to judge this World Cup on football matters. But the deeper we get into the preparations, the more it becomes clear that football is no longer the main story. For that reason, I believe Gianni Infantino should seriously consider stepping down as FIFA President.

⛔️A World Cup should unite people. Instead, this tournament is becoming a symbol of division, political disputes, travel restrictions, and administrative failures.‼️

[قناة الجزيرة @AJArabic]

"أنا ابن الصومال وسندافع عنه".. أولى تصريحات الحكم عمر عرتن بعد وصوله مقديشو عقب منعه من دخول الولايات المتحدة للمشاركة في التحكيم بمباريات كأس العالم 2026
#الجزيرة_مونديال26 #فيديو

[ESPN Africa @ESPNAfrica]

Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after being denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup 🇸🇴