The Somali World Cup referee who was denied entry to the United States upon his arrival in Miami will officiate an important European soccer game next season.
The referee, Omar Artan, was among the 52 officials selected by FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, to referee at the tournament. After American immigration officials in Miami told Mr. Artan he could not enter the country, World Cup organizers faced global scrutiny.
As FIFA officials dismissed the criticism, the Union of European Football Associations announced on Thursday that Mr. Artan will officiate a game on Sept. 12 between Paris St.-Germain and Aston Villa of England.
Mr. Artan’s elevation by UEFA, the organization that governs soccer in Europe, contrasts with how American officials view him.
When he arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday, Mr. Artan said he was taken aside for questioning by officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ultimately put back on a plane to Istanbul, his point of departure. He flew back to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, early on Wednesday.
The U.S. border authorities said in an email that the decision was made over “vetting concerns” but did not provide further details.
A search of the sanctions list website of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control shows that Mr. Artan’s name is similar to that of a man identified as having ties to the Somali militant group Al Shabab.
In a recent interview, Mr. Artan said he knew nothing about the militant group.
Mr. Artan was one of seven Africans selected by FIFA to referee at the tournament. The Confederation of African Football, the African soccer organization, named Mr. Artan the continent’s top referee last year, and he would have been the first Somali to take charge of a World Cup game.
Although Mr. Artan will not referee the games, Somalis gave him a jubilant welcome home in Mogadishu.
“I feel really happy he is finally back to where he is loved the most,” Sacdiya Olad, 23, said. “He is a national hero for us and for Africa as well because he is the best referee in Africa.”
Matthew Mpoke Bigg contributed reporting from Nairobi, Kenya, and Hussein Mohamed from Mogadishu, Somalia.
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