Former United States First Lady Hillary Clinton has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the barring of FIFA-badged Somali referee, Omar Artan, from entering the the US for officialpting duting at the 2026 World Cup tournament, criticising the decision by the Trump administration.
Reacting in a post on her verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Clinton questioned the message the move sends as the United States hosts one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
The former US Secretary of State also argued that global sports competitions should improve international exchange and relations, and not the reverse.
“As a World Cup host, the U.S. shouldn’t be flippantly barring officials from entering the country to do their jobs,” she wrote.
“It’s terribly backward. It’s also counterproductive. Global sports competitions should improve international exchange and relations, not the reverse.”
Clinton’s remarks added to growing international attention surrounding Artan’s exclusion, with many viewing the incident as a setback for the spirit of inclusivity and cooperation that global sporting competitions seek to promote.
At about the same time, the Somali referee has spoken publicly for the first time after being denied entry into the United States, saying he remained optimistic and committed to his refereeing career despite being denied entry into the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, shared a message on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, thanking football authorities and supporters for standing by him following the incident.
“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan wrote.
The highly-rated referee, who was turned back after arriving in Miami despite holding a valid US visa and FIFA accreditation, also expressed gratitude to world football governing bodies for their support.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
Artan extended his appreciation to football fans and colleagues around the world, wishing the officials participating in the tournament success.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
The incident brought an abrupt end to what would have been a historic moment for Somali football, with Arianna poised to become the country’s first representative among World Cup match officials.
