World Cup referee Omar Artan of Somalia was denied entry to the United States for the tournament due to security concerns, CNN reported.
CNN said they were told by an administration official of President Donald Trump that “the investigation revealed ‘derogatory information, including cooperation with suspected terrorist organizations'”.
The report said the official “did not provide further details about the alleged links to terrorist organisations”.
Artan, meanwhile, returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu and vowed to participate in future tournaments in Morocco, Portugal and Spain in 2030.
More than 100 supporters lined up outside the VIP section of Mogadishu’s main airport, waving national flags as Artan disembarked from the Turkish Airlines plane to cheers.
“I will participate in the next World Cup and I will continue to make Somalia proud … Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged,” Artan told reporters.
