A US official said Somali judge Omar Artan was denied entry to the US because of his "association with suspected members of terrorist organisations".
The 34-year-old, who was the referee of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, was detained at Miami airport and has now returned to his home in Somalia.
"This individual sought to enter the US. Upon further inspection by Customs and Border Protection, information was revealed, including connections to suspected members of terrorist organizations, making the traveler ineligible for admission to the US," a Trump administration source said, BBC reports.
Artan was welcomed as a hero in Somalia. He was supposed to be the country's first referee at the World Cup.
Similar articles
