AAP Soccer

Somali referee to get full World Cup pay: report

By AAP Newswire

Jun 14, 2026

Somali referee Omar Artan will reportedly receive his full pay as a World Cup referee despite the United States blocking his entry into the country.

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Artan had to fly home after officials in the US, which is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada, said he had an "association with suspected members of terror organisations".

But the BBC on Sunday, citing sources close to the matter, said the 2025 African referee of the year would receive his full tournament fee despite not officiating any matches.

European football's governing body UEFA, in a clear broadside against World Cup organiser FIFA, announced after his entry ban that Artan would referee the Super Cup final between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League victors Aston Villa in August.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan in a statement released hours before the World Cup kicked off.

"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," Ceferin said.

"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."