FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
A dream pursued for four years was shattered in a matter of hours by American bureaucracy. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the Somali referee who could have become the first from his country to referee a World Cup, was deported from the United States after being confused with another person with the same name.
Artan had arrived in Florida to participate in the FIFA referees' conference for the World Cup. Although he had the proper documentation and visa, he was stopped immediately upon arrival at Miami airport.
According to reports, the Somali referee was subjected to an interrogation that lasted about 11 hours. He was then held in a cell for several hours before US authorities decided to deport him from the country.
In an interview with The New York Times, Artan expressed his disappointment about what happened.
" I'm just a referee trying to fulfill his biggest dream, to be part of the World Cup. I had all the documents in order, but I was questioned for hours, held in prison and then deported. I believe the problem is related to my country of origin ," he declared.
According to international media, the situation was complicated by the fact that Artan has the same name as one of the leaders of the militant group Al Shabab, an organization operating in Somalia. During interrogation, American authorities repeatedly asked him if he had any connections or contacts with this group.
" I was asked several times if I had met representatives of Al Shabab. I explained that I knew nothing about them and that I was only in the US to carry out my duty as a referee ," he confessed.
His case has sparked widespread reactions and gone viral on social media, reigniting the debate over US immigration policies. Criticism has also come from Democratic Party figures, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Omar Artan was one of the 52 referees selected for the World Cup preparatory activities and is considered one of the most highly regarded African referees in recent years.
After his expulsion, he returned to Mogadishu, where he was welcomed by journalists and citizens who considered him a hero. However, the warm welcome in his homeland could not replace the disappointment of missing out on a great opportunity to be part of the most important stage of world football.
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