Mayor Chow welcomes Somali referee barred from U.S.
FIFA referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S. for the World Cup due to travel restrictions; Chow says he'd be welcome in Toronto.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has offered to host a Somali FIFA referee who was denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup, criticizing the U.S. decision as unfair.
Omar Artan, the only Somali referee appointed by FIFA for the tournament, was found inadmissible by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday after undergoing additional inspection. The denial came due to "vetting concerns," according to media reports. Somalia is among the countries affected by U.S. travel restrictions introduced under President Donald Trump.
Chow issued a statement saying Artan had earned his place on the world stage through hard work and perseverance. "Denying entry to Omar Artan is not right," she said. The mayor also declared that Artan would be welcome to referee matches in Toronto and said she will inform FIFA that he could be assigned to the city's World Cup games.
"Toronto believes in fairness, inclusion, and giving talent the opportunity to shine. He would be welcomed to referee here in our city," Chow added.
Reactions online were mixed, with some praising Chow's comments and criticizing the U.S. decision, while others argued that immigration and border decisions fall under federal jurisdiction rather than municipal government. Artan is considered a top-flight referee who has officiated matches across Europe.