Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA for its handling of the Omar Artan situation. | Photo Credit: AP
Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA for its handling of the Omar Artan situation. | Photo Credit: AP
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised his former organisation for its handling of the Omar Artan situation, saying that it has a responsibility to “never compromise the universality of football.”
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to referee at a FIFA World Cup, was denied entry into the USA upon arrival in Miami despite having both a valid visa and a diplomatic passport.
A FIFA World Cup host country must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country — and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees. The case of referee Omar Artan from Somalia is against one of these obligations. FIFA must never…
— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) June 13, 2026
The 34-year-old, who was named Africa’s best referee in 2025, was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival at Miami International Airport.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Blatter said that a host country “must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country — and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees,” and that the removal of Artan was against these principles.
Artan has since returned home, and will not take part in the World Cup. He has, however, been appointed as the referee for the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in August.
Published on Jun 13, 2026
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