By Teddy Nwanunobi
Somali FIFA referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has reportedly turned down FIFA’s offer of a $100,000 compensation payment.
Daily NewsCraft reports that the payment offer was made after Artan was unable to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States.
Artan, who was selected as one of Africa’s representatives for the tournament, said no amount of money could replace the opportunity to officiate on football’s biggest stage.
According to reports, he believes the honour of representing Somalia and Africa at the World Cup is priceless.
“I don’t want compensation. I wanted to referee at the World Cup,” Artan reportedly said, insisting that the missed opportunity was about professional achievement, rather than financial reward.
FIFA had announced that Artan would still receive his full tournament remuneration despite his absence from the competition after he was denied entry into the U.S.
However, the decision has continued to generate debate, with many arguing that financial compensation cannot undo the disappointment of missing a once-in-a-lifetime career milestone.
Daily NewsCraft reports that Artan, 34, was detained and questioned for 11 hours by the US immigration officials, upon arriving for the tournament at the Miami International Airport before being informed that he would not be allowed into the country. His diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa were ultimately rejected.
A US government official said the decision was linked to an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations.”
Artan said border officials questioned him about possible links to the Somali militant group, Al Shabab, allegations he strongly denied.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa. I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup,” he said.
After being refused entry, Artan was placed on a flight to Turkey. FIFA officials assisted him during a stopover in Istanbul before he returned to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
The setback has not derailed Artan’s career trajectory. The award-winning official has since been invited to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12.