Somali referee Omar Artan denies viral anti‑US post amid World Cup entry row

Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan. (Photo: Handout)

By Bashir Mbuthia
Thursday, June 11, 2026

Responding to the claims on his official Facebook page on Thursday, Omar said he has never operated an account on X and rejected suggestions that the statements attributed to him were genuine.

Somali referee Omar Artan has denied any connection to a screenshot circulating on social media that purports to show him making inflammatory remarks in response to a US Department of State statement, days after he was denied entry into the United States (US) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he had been set to officiate.

The screenshot has been widely shared online in the wake of the controversy, with some social media users alleging that the purported remarks may have influenced Washington’s decision to bar the referee from entering the country.

Responding to the claims on his official Facebook page on Thursday, Omar said he has never operated an account on X and rejected suggestions that the statements attributed to him were genuine.

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“Any Account in an X does not represent me. My accounts are always verified, and any unverified accounts you see on any platform do not represent me,” he said.

Artan also distanced himself from the contents of the screenshot, saying the views expressed did not reflect his own position.

"I also saw statements made in this account which I disgust and, of course, do not represent me,” he said.

The denial marks Artan's first public response to the viral claims and adds a new dimension to a story that has drawn attention across football circles, particularly given his anticipated role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Omar returned to Somalia to a hero’s welcome on Wednesday after he was denied entry into the US after arriving in South Florida on Saturday. The referee had been selected by FIFA as one of the 52 match officials chosen to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

His appointment had been viewed as a historic moment for Somalia, marking the first time a Somali referee had been selected to take part in football’s biggest tournament.

However, his participation came to an end before the tournament began after US authorities, citing “vetting concerns", denied him entry despite efforts by Somali government officials and FIFA aimed at resolving the matter.