Omar Abdulkadir Artan
Somali football referee (born 1992)
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Omar Abdulkadir Artan (born 1992)[1] is a Somali football referee. Artan was the first referee from Somalia to take charge of a continental final, overseeing Egyptian side Pyramids FC's 2024–25 CAF Champions League triumph over South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo. He has also officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Moreover, Omar has also made history as the first Somali referee selected for a FIFA World Cup tournament. He is among three centre referees chosen from Africa and the sole representative from Sub-Saharan Africa to officiate at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[2][3][4]
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| |||
| Born |
1992 (age 33–34) Mogadishu, Somalia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2018– | Som 1st Division | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2018– | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Refereeing career
Artan is an official referee in the Somalia first division league and member of FIFA listed referees as well. Artan, born in Mogadishu in 1992, became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018.[5] He made history in January 2024 as the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, overseeing the Group E match between Tunisia and Namibia. He has also handled high-profile fixtures in the CAF Champions League and 2026 FIFA.[1] Artan was a part of a nine-member contingent from Africa that includes three referees and six assistant referees selected.[4][6] However, Artan's achievement buried Somalia's poor record football history in the last three decades witnessing a referee from Somalia representing not only Somalia but also African continent. Somalia's footballing landscape faced numerous challenges due to instability and conflict that plagued the country for decades. However, recent efforts to restore peace and security have created opportunities for football revival. FIFA played a pivotal role in this revival by offering training to Somali referees and young footballers. Training had been halted for many years due to the unstable situation in the country. However, with the security improvement, FIFA resumed its training programs.[7] Artan managed to fill out big gaps getting benefited from those trainings and programs.
2026 FIFA World Cup
In April 2026, Artan was selected to referee the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[8] On 6 June, he flew from Istanbul, Turkey, to Miami over the weekend to attend a mandatory FIFA match officials seminar ahead of the World Cup.[9] Despite having secured a valid U.S. visa and receiving a diplomatic passport facilitated by the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) turned him away upon his arrival at Miami International Airport.[10] After landing, American immigration authorities denied him entry and immediately placed him on a return flight to Istanbul.[11] CBP stated that Artan was found inadmissible following inspection due to unspecified "vetting concerns" and was therefore denied admission to the United States.[8] Some sources blamed the stringent vetting processes and tight immigration restrictions implemented by Trump administration.[12] FIFA later confirmed that he would be unable to participate as a match official at the tournament, noting that decisions regarding entry and visas ultimately rested with the host government.[13]
Personal life
Born in Mogadishu in the early 1990s,[1] Artan began his refereeing career in local Somali leagues before being included on the FIFA international referees list in 2018. Somali sporting authorities and media describing his achievements as a source of pride and an inspiration for the country's sporting development.[6]