TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his regret over the incident involving Somali referee Omar Artan, who was unable to enter the United States after arriving in the country due to being denied access by local authorities.
"It's very unfortunate what happened to Omar (Artan), the referee from Somalia," Infantino said at a press conference in Mexico City, as quoted by a FIFA video broadcast on Thursday, Western Indonesian Time.
Infantino also called for calm regarding this matter and assured everyone that FIFA is not remaining silent and is working to find the best solution.
"Once again, we can't control everything. We're trying, we'll discuss, we'll talk, we'll see what happens. We're working on everything," Infantino said.
In addition to Omar Artan, several other people, from team photographers to supporters, were previously unable to enter the United States because their visa requests were denied.
Previously, it was reported that Omar Artan, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) referee of the year for 2025 and a candidate to be the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup match, was unable to enter the US.
Immigration authorities at Miami International Airport deemed Artan ineligible for their country.
Omar Artan himself maintained that all his documentation was in order, even though Somalia is a country on the US travel ban list.
Following the denial, Artan was forced to return to Istanbul, Turkey, from where he was to fly to the US.
Explaining their decision, a spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said that Artan had undergone "additional screening" upon arrival on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Read: Somali Referee Barred from World Cup After US Entry Denial
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
2026 FIFA World Cup to Showcase Canada's Diversity, Ambassador Says
3 jam lalu
One of the host countries of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Canada, is ready to welcome football enthusiasts from around the world.
Indonesia Jumps to 118 in FIFA Rankings After Matchday Victories
11 jam lalu
Indonesia climbed four spots to 118th in the latest FIFA rankings thanks to its victories against Oman and Mozambique.
2026 World Cup Opening Ceremonies: Performers, Dates & Start Time
14 jam lalu
Discover everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup opening ceremonies, including the performers, dates, start time, and more.
FIFA World Cup 2026 to Use AI-Powered Referees, Security
1 hari lalu
FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the largest tournament in football history, and also it is projected to be the most advanced sporting event ever held
What Is Wrong with the 2026 World Cup
1 hari lalu
The 2026 World Cup has come under fire even before kickoff. Criticism is mounting over Trump's politics, high ticket prices, and more.
2026 FIFA World Cup Referee Salary: How Much Will Officials Earn?
1 hari lalu
The 2026 FIFA World Cup referees are reportedly expected to earn $100,000 each for officiating at the tournament, before any bonuses are included.
Somali Referee Barred from World Cup After US Entry Denial
1 hari lalu
Africa's top referee of 2025, Omar Artan, missed the chance to become Somalia's first World Cup official after being denied U.S. entry.
TVRI Confirms Readiness to Air 2026 World Cup in Indonesia
2 hari lalu
Indonesia's public broadcaster TVRI says it is ready to air the 2026 FIFA World Cup after completing technical tests and trial broadcasts.
FIFA Relaxes Ban on Water Bottles at 2026 World Cup
4 hari lalu
FIFA has finally relaxed its ban on bringing water bottles into stadiums during the 2026 World Cup after receiving criticism from various parties.
FBI to Deploy Anti-Drone Systems at All 2026 World Cup Venues
4 hari lalu
The FBI will deploy systems to detect and disable drones at all 2026 FIFA World Cup facilities.
:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/bola/watermark-color-landscape-new.png,1125,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/5495647/original/074499000_1770385031-barba.jpeg)
