US-banned Somali referee to get full Fifa fee

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US to officiate at the Football World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee, reports BBC News. Artan was interrogated for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport last Monday before being told he would not be allowed into the country after his diplomatic passport and single entry US visa were rejected. A US Government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of an ‘alleged association with suspected members of terror organisations'. Artan said he had been questioned by border officials over his links to Somali militant group Al Shabab and had told them he knew nothing about the organisation. After being put back on a plane to Turkey, Artan received assistance from International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) officials in Istanbul before boarding a flight to the Somali capital Mogadishu, where he received a hero’s welcome. Sources said that even though Artan will take no part in the World Cup, Fifa has committed to paying his salary. Referees do not know the actual fee they will receive for officiating at the World Cup, which is paid after the tournament is over.