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Somali referee Omar Artan

Omar Artan to officiate 2026 UEFA Super Cup after being unable to participate in FIFA World Cup 2026

Despite his young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world’s top referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018. Among the most notable matches he has officiated is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. In recognition of his performances, he received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025.

Artan had been included by FIFA in the match officials’ list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 but could not participate as he was not allowed to enter the United States.

The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match has been made in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing. UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination.

 

 

Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president, said: “Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football. Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative

 

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Somali referee Omar Artan

Despite his young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world’s top referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018. Among the most notable matches he has officiated is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. In recognition of his performances, he received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025.
Artan had been included by FIFA in the match officials’ list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 but could not participate as he was not allowed to enter the United States.
The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match has been made in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing. UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination.
Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president, said: “Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football. Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”

 

Somali referee Omar Artan

 

By diinsoornews, ago

Somali referee Artan barred from entering US

Somali referee Omar Artan

 

Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States.

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.

No reason for Artan’s repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.

After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.

“Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” read a statement.

“Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.

“In line with previous Fifa events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

Referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has created a training hub for the tournament’s 52 referees and 88 assistant referees, in Miami.

All on-pitch officials must stay at the base in Florida for training, preparation and security.

It would therefore not be possible for Artan to stay outside the United States and only referee matches played in Canada or Mexico.

A senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan had been travelling with valid documents.

A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan’s diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.

Speaking in a statement to Reuters, Artan said that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenge.

“I would like to thank Fifa and Caf for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.

“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted Fifa seeking urgent clarification.

Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “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.”

The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July.

An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Artan’s plight is the latest fiasco to hit the World Cup, with Iran’s football federation stating on Tuesday that their allocation of fan tickets for the group stage has been revoked.

Pundit and former England striker Ian Wright has labelled the tournament a “World Cup of chaos”, saying in a video on Instagram: “Every few hours, it’s another story about fans denied, player denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs.

“I’m laughing but it’s not funny. It’s actually not funny and something has to be said. The most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof.

“Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world? Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?

“I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.

By diinsoornews, ago

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Somalia and Sudan pledge to deepen cooperation during talks in Baku

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 13th World Urban Forum, bringing together Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry and Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in economic development, trade, investment, infrastructure, as well as urban development and housing.

Sudan’s foreign minister said his country remains committed to strengthening ties with Somalia, stressing the importance of supporting development and stability in both nations.

He also underscored the need for closer coordination on regional and international issues, and for enhanced diplomatic consultation between the two governments.

For his part, Somalia’s commerce minister expressed satisfaction with the longstanding brotherly relations between Mogadishu and Khartoum, noting Somalia’s interest in expanding economic cooperation and benefiting from shared experiences in development.

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Somali Opposition Condemns Government Over Blocked Protest in Mogadishu

Somali Opposition Condemns Government Over Blocked Protest in Mogadishu

In a statement, the opposition group said the demonstration had been organized to express solidarity with residents allegedly displaced from their homes through what it called forced and unlawful evictions.The coalition said the protest was intended to remain peaceful and accused the federal government of restricting constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and public assembly.“The right to protest and express public opinion is guaranteed under the constitution,” the statement said, adding that the government’s actions violated key democratic principles and civil liberties.

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Munaasabad Dhaqan oo Muqdisho Ka Dhacday oo Mideysay Madaxda Dowladda iyo Mucaaradka

Munaasabad Dhaqan oo Muqdisho Ka Dhacday oo Mideysay Madaxda Dowladda iyo Mucaaradka

Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya, Mudane Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud, ayaa ka qeyb galay munaasabadda caleemo-saarka Ugaas Cabdirisaaq Ugaas Cabdullaahi Ugaas Xaashi Ugaas Faracade, isaga oo hambalyo, bogaadin iyo duco u diray hoggaanka cusub ee dhaqanka.Khudbad uu halkaasi ka jeediyay Madaxweynaha ayaa waxa uu ku adkeeyay doorka lama huraanka ah ee hoggaanka dhaqanku ku leeyihiin nabadeynta, xalinta khilaafaadka iyo mideynta bulshada Soomaaliyeed.“Munaasabaddani waxay tusaale u tahay midnimada iyo wadajirka ummadda Soomaaliyeed. Hoggaanka dhaqanku waa laf-dhabarta dib u heshiisiinta, dowlad-dhiska iyo xasilloonida dalka,” ayuu yiri Madaxweynaha.Madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh ayaa sidoo kale ugu baaqay guud ahaan hoggaanka dhaqanka Boqorada, Ugaasyada, Imaamyada iyo Malaaqyada in ay hormuud ka noqdaan mideynta bulshada iyo ilaalinta qiyamka suuban ee Soomaaliyeed, si loo xaqiijiyo dal nabdoon, horumarsan oo mideysan.Dhanka kale, madax ka tirsan mucaaradka oo munaasabadda ka qeyb galay ayaa iyaguna carrabka ku adkeeyay muhiimadda ay leedahay in hoggaanka dhaqanku kaalin muuqata ka qaataan xal u helidda caqabadaha siyaasadeed ee dalka, iyagoo ku baaqay wadahadal iyo isfaham qaran.Munaasabaddan ayaa noqotay madal muhiim ah oo ay ku kulmeen dhinacyo kala aragti duwan, iyadoo si gaar ah loo muujiyay awoodda dhaqanka Soomaaliyeed ee mideynta bulshada iyo dhisidda nabad waarta.

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