A leading Somali referee who was expected to officiate matches at the World Cup was reportedly denied entry into the United States over alleged links to terrorist organizations.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, 33, was questioned by border officials at Miami International Airport for several hours on Saturday, June 6, before being detained and ultimately required to leave the country, according to reports.

Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection initially cited “vetting concerns” as the reason for the decision. Later, U.S. authorities stated that Artan was denied entry due to an alleged “association with suspected members of terr0r organizations.”

After arriving in Florida, Artan was reportedly questioned about Somali politics and the terr0rist group Al-Shabaab, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Reports indicated that Artan’s name closely resembles that of another individual alleged to have links to the group. During questioning, the referee was asked whether he had ever met members of the organization, an allegation he denied.

Artan, who was named Africa’s best referee in 2025, has not been charged with any crime in connection with the allegations.

Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, stated that there was a “very good reason” for the decision to deny Artan entry into the United States.