A Somali referee, Omar Artan, was denied entry to the US for the World Cup, despite being selected to officiate at the tournament. Artan was detained and questioned for 11 hours before being sent back home.

Background

The US government had given assurances to FIFA that all eligible athletes, officials, and fans from around the world would be allowed to attend the tournament. However, the Trump administration’s travel ban policy has raised concerns about the ability of people from certain countries to enter the US.

Artan’s case is not isolated, as 15 Iranian officials and an Iraqi team photographer have also been denied entry. Some fans have also reported being subjected to intensive and invasive searches at the border.

Reaction

The denial of entry to Artan has sparked widespread criticism, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling it ‘terribly backward’. Retired soccer player Ian Wright also criticized the decision, saying it was ‘chaotic’ and ‘not how the hosts should behave’.

The Somali Sports Ministry and the Somali Football Federation have expressed support for Artan, while the US Customs and Border Protection agency has cited ‘vetting concerns’ as the reason for the denial.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.