US confirms it denied entry to Somali referee set to take part in World Cup

The United States has denied entry to a top Somali referee who was set to participate in the FIFA World Cup, raising concerns about Washington’s travel restrictions and their impact on the tournament .

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Al Jazeera on Monday that Omar Artan was not allowed into the country after arriving in South Florida on Saturday.

Artan, who is listed as one of FIFA’s 52 World Cup referees, was “determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry”, a DHS spokesperson said in an email, without providing further details.

Artan’s arrival in the US, however, suggests that he had a valid visa prior to travel.

Somalia is on President Donald Trump’s travel ban list. The president has often disparaged the African country and its people. Late last year, he sparked outrage when he called Somali immigrants in the US “garbage”.

Artan, one of Africa’s top referees, was set to become the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match.

The denial of entry is the latest controversy surrounding US travel policies and the World Cup , which is being cohosted by Mexico and Canada.

Iran’s national team has to stay in Mexico due to visa issues. The players will be allowed to arrive in the US to play their game, but they must then return to their base south of the border. Still, some of the team’s staff members were denied US visas altogether.