Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full pay as a World Cup referee despite the United States blocking his entry into the country.
Artan had to fly home after officials in the US, which is co-hosting the football tournament with Mexico and Canada, said he had an “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
But the BBC on Sunday, citing sources close to the matter, said the 2025 African referee of the year would receive his full tournament fee despite not officiating any matches.
European football’s governing body UEFA, in a clear broadside against World Cup organizer FIFA, announced after his entry ban that Artan would referee the Super Cup final between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League victors Aston Villa in August.
