Ahmed Abdi Osman 🇸🇴

Interested for Equality and Inclusivity || Views are strictly mine, RTs Not.

[Ahmed Abdi Osman 🇸🇴 @qayd2012]

So Trump wants to blame this to Somali people 🙄 🤔

[Sky Sports News @SkySportsNews]

American police are investigating, after a significant amount of England’s kit was stolen en route to their new training base in Kansas City.

Sky Sports News has been told that the majority of the kit has now been recovered 🚨

[UEFA @UEFA]

🏆 Referee announced for 2026 #SuperCup!

We're pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg.

[Ahmed Abdi Osman 🇸🇴 @qayd2012]

@OmarArtand1 Fake account and does not represent Artan thoughts. he has no X account.

[Cyprian, Is Nyakundi @C_NyaKundiH]

Countries with retrogressive visa policies should not be allowed to host global tournaments.

The Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly denied entry into the US despite having a valid visa, meaning he will miss his World Cup debut as the first Somali official at the tournament. That alone tells you how broken this hosting model is.

You cannot invite the world to your country, collect tournament glory, collect tourism money, collect broadcast attention, then humiliate qualified officials and participants at the border.

Even the extortionist visa system at the US Embassy in Nairobi should be condemned. Kenyans pay money, fill forms, queue, wait for months, then someone rejects them in two minutes and keeps the money.

If your visa policy treats Africans like suspects and ATMs, you have no business hosting the world.

[Harun Maruf @HarunMaruf]

Somali referee gets a hero’s welcome upon returning to Mogadishu after being denied entry into the U.S. Speaking to the reporters briefly, Omar Artan said he looks forward to participating in the next World Cup which will be co-hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal

[Saul Staniforth @SaulStaniforth]

The head of the US World Cup task force is asked why Omar Artan was denied entry.

He says people communicating with bad actors planning harm against the US wont be admitted

He's then asked, was Artan communicating with bad actors & who were they?

He says he can't talk about it

[James Melville 🚜 @JamesMelville]

Well said Ian Wright.

[João Figueiredo @joaofig]

Pensem no seguinte cenário: se o Brasil ou qualquer país do Sul Global barra um árbitro europeu com passaporte diplomático na porta de uma Copa, a FIFA desfiliaria a nossa federação e exigiria sanções na ONU antes do meio-dia. Como são os Estados Unidos deportando o melhor árbitro africano por pura paranoia xenofóbica, a cartolagem vai engolir o vexame em silêncio absoluto. A lei internacional só opera de cima para baixo.

[Gordon Fielden @GordonFielden]

This is the largest sporting event on the planet, despite what some Americans may believe, and the decision to prevent Africa's leading referee from participating in the World Cup sends an extraordinarily damaging message about the United States and the direction in which it is heading.

I am genuinely astonished that FIFA has not lodged a formal protest with the United States Government and sought intervention to ensure that this referee, who is held in the highest regard within the international refereeing community, is granted a visa to undertake one of the most important roles in world football. For any referee, appointment to a World Cup is among the greatest honours the sport can bestow.

A person's country of birth should never be the sole reason for preventing them from entering a country to carry out a specific professional duty at a specific international event. Particularly when the President of the United States publicly assured the world that participants would be welcomed.

If nationality alone has been the determining factor, then this is a serious stain upon both the tournament and the host nation. It raises profound questions about fairness, equality of treatment and whether political considerations are now taking precedence over sporting merit.

The World Cup is supposed to bring nations together. Decisions such as this achieve precisely the opposite.

[Stunner @invertCucurella]

🚨🗣Steven Gerrard: "this fifa world cup in USA is becoming the worst tournament even before it get started! This is not how it is supposed to be, the weather in the US is terrible for players to play in, and we have news of the Somali referee Omar Artan who was appointed by FIFA denied entry, Iran saying FIFA has withdrawn fans World Cup ticket allocation, couple with funny security checks [Kevin Debruyne Belgium and Senegal players]

"I have to say it again this World Cup is starting to look like a mess, and the tournament hasn't even properly begun yet."

"Usually, before a World Cup, we're talking about the favourites, the star players, and the football. Instead, we're talking about travel problems, ticket controversies, and immigration issues."

"The Omar Artan situation is one of the most disappointing stories I've seen. FIFA selected him because they believed he was good enough to officiate at the World Cup, yet he was denied entry into the United States and will miss the tournament."

"Imagine working your whole life to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup and then being prevented from taking part for reasons completely unrelated to football."

"Then you have Iran's federation saying their allocation of World Cup tickets for supporters was withdrawn just days before the competition. Whether you agree with a government or not, supporters should not be the ones paying the price."

"I've also seen players and delegations complaining about the level of security checks and the delays involved. At some point, people stop feeling welcomed and start feeling like they're being treated as suspects."

"The weather is another concern. We're talking about matches being played in extreme summer conditions. The players are expected to perform at the highest level while dealing with heat that can completely change the rhythm of a game."

"A World Cup should be about bringing the world together. Instead, every day seems to bring another story that has nothing to do with football."

"The worrying thing is that these aren't isolated incidents anymore. When ticket disputes, entry restrictions, and organisational concerns keep appearing, people naturally begin questioning the tournament itself."

"I still hope the football saves the competition because the World Cup is bigger than any host nation. But right now, the headlines aren't making FIFA look good, and they certainly aren't making this look like the celebration of football it was supposed to be."

[Sakariye Cismaan @SakariyeDhegnas]

A blessing in disguise

Ironically, in a classic case of the Streisand effect, the Trump Administration ensured that Omar Artan became an icon of future World Cups. Mr. Artan’s future is now incredibly bright. Onwards and upwards, brother.

[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

[Abdirashid Hashi @AnalystSomalia]

🇨🇦 🇸🇴 🇲🇽

FIFA’s Moment of Truth: Stand by Omar Artan

Instead of allowing others to decide who can and cannot do their job, @FIFAcom and @FIFAWorldCup should stand by their own referee — a man who also happens to be Africa’s Best Referee.

This is particularly true when the current U.S. president has repeatedly used hostile rhetoric toward Africans in general and Somalis in particular. Trump has previously described African countries as “sh*tholes” and has repeatedly used derogatory language when discussing Somalia.

Football is supposed to unite people, not exclude them. FIFA proudly campaigns against discrimination and celebrates the power of sport to bring the world together. A World Cup hosted by three countries should not sideline Africa’s top referee.

Had U.S. immigration denied visas to Gianni Infantino, FIFA President; Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General; or Heimo Schirgi, FIFA World Cup Chief Event Operations Officer, FIFA would have moved heaven and earth to find a solution, including allowing them to work from Canada or Mexico.

Yet when it comes to Omar Abdulkadir Artan — Africa’s Best Male Referee for 2025 — they appear content to throw him under the bus rather than explore alternatives.

Shame, @fifamedia.

I hope Canada and Mexico issue visas to Artan. There is no reason a referee denied entry to one host country cannot still contribute to a World Cup being hosted across three countries.

@Claudiashein @MarkJCarney

[Larry Madowo @LarryMadowo]

If Africa's top referee is inadmissible in America, who qualifies? Many are calling it racism.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the US "due to vetting concerns" even though he had a 3-month multiple entry visa and was traveling on a diplomatic passport

[WelBeast @WelBeast]

Why is it called the World Cup when some people from certain regions are excluded? Is football and sports generally supposed to unite people from all walks of life?

[WelBeast @WelBeast]

The USA shouldn’t be allowed to host any major sporting events that involves participants from outside the USA.

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, has been denied entry to the United States.

[Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn]

What an absolute disgrace. A FIFA-certified referee being denied entry to the United States purely because he is Somali.

The World Cup is meant to bring people together. This is racism, plain and simple. Shameful.

https://t.co/rpSgTmmPU4

[Abdullahi Osman @AbdullahiNOsman]

It is deeply concerning that the air conditioning system at Aden Adde International Airport is either not functioning properly or operating at a very minimal level that cannot adequately cool the terminal areas. When I asked about the issue, I was informed that this problem has persisted for several months.

This situation is unacceptable, especially for elderly passengers, sick people, and vulnerable travelers who cannot tolerate the intense heat and may even face serious health risks, including suffocation. At this time, many elderly Somalis are traveling to perform Hajj, and they deserve dignity, comfort, and proper services after paying significant costs for their journey.

The company managing the airport must take its responsibilities seriously. If such an essential service cannot be properly maintained for months, serious questions must be raised regarding accountability and compliance with their contractual obligations.

At the same time, where are the Somali authorities responsible for oversight? I urge the Government of Somalia, especially Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who has visited the airport several times and directed that airport conditions be improved, to urgently intervene and ensure this matter is addressed without delay.

Passengers deserve safe, humane, and professional services at the country’s main international airport.@HamzaAbdiBarre ‘ @KamalGutale

[Afyare A. Elmi @afyare_elmi]

Mr. President, @HassanSMohamud,

Criticism of leaders, governments, and policies is a natural part of democracy. Therefore, please release Sadiya Moallim, journalists, and other citizens who are imprisoned for expressing their political views about your government and leadership.

Your government will be weaker if it seeks to silence dissenting voices and citizens. It will be stronger by respecting freedom of expression, tolerating criticism, and inviting debate.

Madaxweyne

In qof madax ah, dowladda uu hoggaamiyo iyo iyo siyaasadiisa la dhaliolo waa caadi.

Waxba uma dhimayaan dhaliilaha Sacdiya Macallin iyo muwaadiniinta kale dowladnimada.wayba xoojinayaan.

Waxaan ku baqayaa in xabsiga laga sii daayo Sacdiya iyo inta kale ee fikirkooda u xiran. Caburintu waxba soo kordhin mayso. Waxaa quman in dowladdu la dodo dadka.