Denied entry at Miami Airport and sent packing, Africa’s top referee just landed home to a hero’s welcome — and he’s already eyeing World Cup redemption.

Banned referee Omar Artan is back on home soil, and he’s not letting a US travel ban stop his World Cup dream, cbinews.tv reports.

The 34-year-old, who was crowned Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, touched down in Mogadishu on Wednesday after being turned away from Miami International Airport on Monday. He was meant to make history as the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup final, but US immigration officials sent him back despite him carrying both a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.

No official reason has been given for his repatriation. But Somalia is one of 12 countries hit with a full entry ban under any visa category by President Donald Trump in June 2025.

Artan landed at Aden Adde International Airport to cheers from government officials, Somali Football Federation reps, fellow refs, and local fans. He’s set to appear at Mogadishu Stadium later today to watch Heegan take on Dekadaha.

Speaking to the BBC, Artan was full of gratitude:

“I’d like to thank the officials, ministers, MPs and everyone. I want to thank my country and people for their support. The encouragement I received here, I know I’ll get more support outside [the airport].”

“Everything is pre-destined. Fifa supported me well and were in touch with me until I reached Mogadishu.

“I promise you that I’ll be officiating you in the next World Cup. Somalia, everywhere, I’m letting you know.”

Artan was one of 52 referees picked for the tournament. But his “dream” fell apart when he tried to reach the officials’ base in Florida. He told the New York Times he sat through an 11-hour immigration interview and was detained for hours before being put on a flight back to Istanbul.

Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, told BBC World Service: “While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”

Officials couldn’t stay outside the US and still work matches in Canada or Mexico — all on-pitch referees are based in Florida for training, prep and security.

The ban came just two days before the World Cup draw in December 2025, when Trump made headlines for comments on Somalia ahead of an immigration operation in Minnesota. “With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no anything,” he said. “They just run around killing each other. There’s no structure.” He added that Somali immigrants should “go back to where they came from”.

Back home, Artan had a message for Somalia’s youth:

“Let’s all defend Somalia’s honour. We all belong to Somalia whether it’s bad or good. That flag is ours and so is the passport - let’s defend it. The youth shouldn’t be demoralised about their country. Despite this happening to me, I’ll still stand for my nation. I want to continue my journey from here and urge the youth the same.”

Source: cbinews.tv

#OmarArtan #WorldCup2026 #Somalia #FootballNews #Referee #FIFA #Mogadishu #USVisaBan #AfricanFootball #NeverGiveUp #CbiNewsTv