World Cup referee Omar Artan of Somalia was denied entry into the United States for the tournament owing to security concerns, broadcasters CNN have reported.
CNN said they were told by an official of President Donald Trump's administration that "the vetting uncovered 'derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations.'"
The report said the official "did not provide further details on the alleged association with terror organizations."
Somalia is among 39 countries on which the US has imposed strict immigration measures and among a smaller group of countries with a complete US entry ban. In the country, the Al-Shabaab militia has been fighting the government for many years in some parts of the country and is rated a terrorist organization.
Artam arrived in the US at Miami airport with valid travel documents but was then questioned for several hours by US Customs and Border Protection officers. The CBP then denied him entry and deported him to Istanbul from where he had arrived.
Speaking only of a World Cup referee from Somalia without naming him, the CBP said that he was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”
Named African Referee of the Year 2025, Artam was to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup and one of seven African referees for the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada which kicks off on Thursday.
Artam told the New York Times he was interviewed for 11 hours and then detained before being deported.
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," Artan said.
Somalia's sports ministry said he was denied entry to the US without a valid reason and was in contact with the world governing body FIFA which for its part has dropped Artam from the referees list and said it has no saying in immigration matters.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” FIFA said.
