South Africa’s opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has strongly criticised the reported treatment of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after claims that he was denied entry into the United States despite being appointed by FIFA as an official for the 2026 World Cup.
The incident has sparked renewed debate across Africa about whether participants from the continent will face obstacles at a tournament being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the EFF described the reported refusal of entry as a troubling development and said it reinforced concerns that had been raised when the United States was awarded hosting rights for football’s biggest event.
According to the party, Artan travelled to the United States with both a valid visa and FIFA accreditation linked to his World Cup duties. However, the EFF said the Somali official was allegedly turned away upon arrival in Miami.
The party argued that the case raises broader questions about how participants from Africa and other parts of the world will be treated during the tournament.
For many across the continent, the reported incident carries particular significance because Artan was set to make history as the first Somali referee selected to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.
The EFF said such an achievement would have represented a landmark moment not only for Somalia but also for African football as a whole.
The South African political organisation linked the issue to wider concerns about US immigration procedures and restrictions affecting visitors from certain regions of the world.
In its statement, the EFF said: “This shameful incident confirms exactly what progressive and anti-imperialist forces across the world warned FIFA about when the tournament was awarded to the US.”
The party also pointed to reports involving Iran’s national football team.
According to the EFF, Iran was forced to alter its World Cup preparations by relocating its planned training base from the United States to Mexico because of visa-related complications, security concerns and restrictions imposed by American authorities.
The EFF further alleged that players, officials, photographers and delegates from countries affected by US immigration measures have faced additional screening and lengthy questioning when entering the country.
Using Artan’s case as an example, the party questioned whether all World Cup participants would receive equal treatment during the tournament.
The controversy comes as African nations prepare for the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is expected to be the largest edition in the competition’s history.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are among the African teams preparing to compete on the global stage, while supporters across the continent are expected to travel in significant numbers to North America for the tournament.
The EFF has called on FIFA to explain how it intends to protect players, officials, journalists and supporters from discrimination during the World Cup.
It has also urged the Confederation of African Football, the African Union and football associations across Africa to formally protest the reported treatment of Artan and seek assurances that no other African participant will face discrimination, harassment or exclusion during the competition.
