Why a Somali World Cup referee was barred from the United States | The Global Story

A Somali referee called Omar Artan has been refused entry into the United States for the World Cup. US officials say it's because of a quote association with suspected members of terror organizations. Artan says he told officials that he doesn't know anything

about any terror organizations. Somali and African fans aren't happy. Is it the United States prerogative to decide who they let into their country? Does border security trump everything or might it be prudent

to cultivate good relations with a continent of 1.5 billion people? From the BBC, I'm Tristan Redmond in London and this is the global story on YouTube. On today's episode, the case of the Somali referee and

it's African aftershocks. Before we go any further, there isn't any swearing in this episode, but there is some language that not everyone will love. So, if you got kids, take care.

Well, I'm pleased to say that we are joined today from Nairobi by our good friend Charles Gonga, um, who is a reporter for BBC Africa and the host of the BBC Focus on Africa podcast. Welcome back to the show, Charles.

>> Hey, Tristan. Happy to be back. >> It's great to have you. Uh this is a big big Africa story. I want to kick off by saying um Africa uh

does not speak with one voice any more than Europeans as a continent speak with one voice. But if there's anyone who has a very strong overview of the eb and flow of African opinion, Charles, it's you.

So we're very pleased to have you here with us to to help us unpick um this important story. The World Cup has kicked off on a somewhat controversial note. Um but it does seem as though one contingent in

the World Cup there there are 10 African teams and there is a feeling amongst some Africans that uh African nations are being hard done by already and we want to understand what the possible consequences of all this might be.

Let's talk about what's happened this week to the Somali referee Omar Artan. tell us about him. How well known is he on the African continent? >> Right.

So, uh, Omar Arton is one of what you'd say rising stars from a refereeing point of view in African football. He's only 34 years old. He's from Somalia.

And when the announcement was made earlier this year that he would be one of the referees at the World Cup in the US and candidate Mexico, it was huge news for the African continent, much bigger news for Somalia as a country who felt, you know, they may not

have qualified to play at that level of football, but they will have a representation now by having a referee at the tournament. So he was sent to be the first uh the first Somali referee at the World Cup.

He had told media that you know the ambition of every referee including himself was to be able to officiate at the World Cup. So he was set to leave uh you know his dream.

But in terms of his credentials he was named the 2025 African football men's referee of the year by the confederation of African football calf. So he has been officiating matches including at the African Cup of Nations very big tournament that happened in Morocco

towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year. And so that's just a bit about him. Grew up in Mogadishu in Somalia. He he was a footballer himself but then had an