The powerful Al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab in Somalia has taken up the defense of Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after the U.S. denied him entry. “Al-Shabaab reacts to U.S. entry denial of Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan,” Somali Guardian, June 10, 2026:
Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab has reacted strongly to the United States’ decision to deny entry to Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan, arguing that the incident demonstrates what it described as longstanding American hostility toward the Somali people.
The controversy erupted after Omar Artan, who was expected to become the first Somali referee ever to officiate a FIFA World Cup match, was denied entry into the United States upon arrival at Miami International Airport on Monday.
U.S. authorities later said the decision was based on security concerns and alleged that Artan had links to Al-Shabaab, the militant group that has waged a deadly insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for nearly two decades. American officials have not publicly released detailed evidence supporting the allegation.
Despite the allegation, Somalia’s federal government publicly rallied behind the Somali referee. Upon his return to Mogadishu on Wednesday, Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome from supporters and government officials before being received at the presidential palace by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who expressed solidarity with him and praised his achievements.
Hours after Artan’s return to Somalia, Al-Shabaab issued a statement seeking to portray the incident as evidence of broader discrimination against Somalis by the United States.
“For decades, the United States government has cloaked its relationship with the Somali people in rhetoric promising partnership and progress. However, evidence suggests that beneath this diplomatic facade lies a deep-seated animosity,” the group said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Somali Congresswoman Ilhan Omar also condemned the rejection of Artan as “shameful,” and called the Trump administration “racist.” Of course, there is no truth to Omar’s nonsensical statement, since the Trump administration does not refuse visa entries by race, but on the basis of security risks.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said that “there was a very good reason why Artan was blocked from entering the US,” and that while he couldn’t “go into the derog on that… it was right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”
Al-Shabaab is known to be al-Qaeda’s wealthiest and most active regional affiliate; it controls substantial territory in Somalia, and its influence is growing. The group also collaborates with Iran’s proxies, the Houthis of Yemen. A UN report stated that cooperation between the Houthis and al-Shabaab “involves weapons smuggling, technical training, including in relation to operational tactics, and exchange of logistical support.” In fact, the Africa Defence Forum notes that Iran is backing the transfer of advanced weaponry by the Houthis to al-Shabaab. UN monitors have confirmed the same. And the Spanish news platform Aralayar has reported that “Iran allies with Al-Shabaab in Somalia to distribute arms to Houthi rebels.”
The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center states that since 2014, al-Shabaab has killed more US citizens than any other al-Qaeda affiliate; and the American homeland remains a primary target. Somalia remains such a threat to America that Texas Rep. Brandan Gill in February introduced a bill to set a 25-year moratorium on migration from Somalia.
Omar Artan was questioned for approximately 11 hours after arriving in Miami from Turkey before being denied entry and returned to Turkey. Reports indicate that the questioning included inquiries about Somali politics and Al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab’s reaction toward the U.S. entry denial of Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan as a “pattern of discrimination against Somalis” would only appeal to the useful idiot left and Democrats such as Ilhan Omar. Al-Shabaab knows that all too well.
tgusa says
Al-Shabaab says U.S. denial of entry to Somali World Cup referee shows a ‘pattern of discrimination against Somalis’
So we have some good news on this Friday morning.
ploome says
LMAO
the Somalis are getting the message, you think?
tgusa says
Indeed. I hope they are not offended. Well, that is what I’m going to write at least.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Yeah! The surprise to me was FIFA selecting a Somalian, of all people in Europe, Latin America and Africa, to officiate these games
tgusa says
There are a lot of Europeans coming to America to watch their favorite game. They are traveling around and finding out what Americans have compared to what they have back home. As they drive through it they cannot believe how big the USA is. They are awed by the constantly changing scenery. They are impressed with Americans wherever they go. The world should know that America is not what they see on left wing hate America TV, Radio, Internet., etc etc.
tgusa says
The world should know that America is not what they see on left wing hate America TV, Radio, Internet., etc etc. We will not put up with the degrading of our Republic. We need to zero in on and loudly point out what we will not accept. We have to do that continuously. Every minute of every hour of every day of every year of every century and on. Yeah, America is at war but it is a completely different war than any Americans have ever seen.
gravenimage says
I was surprised–but heartened–to see his being kept out.
OLD GUY says
Sounds good to me.
Westman says
If al-Shabaab is trying to embarrass the US for being suspicious of Somalis, that could only end in failure. When just a young nation, the US had to deal with Somali pirates after booty – and they are still at it today. Fraud upon the US government social services is associated with Somalians and there is even a Congress Representative who undermines trust in Somali-Americans. It would be an intelligent policy to stop all immigration from Somalia for a time and then vet every single one.
It’s somewhat amusing to hear the Italian government insisting that because most of the pickpockets in Rome are Roma(Gypsies) it doesn’t reflect on the Gypsy population. Oh, wait, it’s now changing its tune as are some EU nations.
It has taken the years from 2015 for European citizens to realize what Islam intends when a 24-hour reading of the Quran and Islamic history would have been sufficient.
Elizabeth Bram says
Is this a JOKE? An actual TERRORIST ORG is complaining of discrimination? We are in an upside down world where people have lost their moral compass.
gravenimage says
+1
somehistory says
Ok government guys; show some real guts and send the ugly loudmouth daughter of terrorist something elmi, back to somalia where she belongs. The notorious lying ilhan elmi, alias omar. needs to go.
Had b clinton any sense, she would not have ever been allowed to enter.
The muzzie who has been refused entry, looks like a clone of the guilty policeman, the politician who ran for office in MN, and so many others.
Since the government is being called ‘racist’ for refusing one somalian entrance, show some real racism…or something….and send all who have been allowed to enter, back .home again. There are hundreds of thousands of them and so very man commit fraud.
Bexarkat says
Wow, when I first read the headline, I thought I opened an email from the Babylon Bee.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Yeah, maybe Mr Spencer should talk to Seth Dillon about a partnership 😈😂
WPM says
So a terrorist organization from pirate land is mad at us for turning away their terror pirate from refereeing a soccer game ?Maybe the heads of the world cup soccer can plan to have their games in that armpit of a country in Africa in the future if they are upset about this .
abu taleb says
Artan should be allowed to enter the US, then taken to custody and trialed for his link with terrorist group.
WPM says
It was reported that he is “the best soccer referee in Africa” ?How do you get that title ,what value does that title bring ?Does it cancel out that he could be a member of a terrorist organization that comes from a terror run country? Send the “best soccer referee of Africa” back to his pirate homeland he seems a national resource that they cannot do without. It is time to start sending more of the “best of people” denaturalizing their citizenship for lying on their citizenship papers back to their homelands .Starting with elected members in federal and local governments that are clearly traitors and terrorist enablers .
Tim gallagher says
Well it is something but not nearly enough. I wish all our non Muslim countries would discriminate against all Muslims in the way those wise Hungarians and poles do and tell them all to piss off, none of you evil scum are settling here.
gravenimage says
I take your point, Tim–but we need all the good news we csn find.
Winston 101 says
Islam never misses a chance at any type of Jihad. Now we have Sports Jihad.
Even if unsuccessful, use the opportunity to try to embarrass the U.S.
This action by the U.S. government was a welcome change.
U.S. officials, please take the principle you are applying to Mr. Artan and apply it to Islam.
Al Qaeda is a Terrorist Organization. Al Qaeda is connected to Islam because Islam is where Al Qaeda gets its claim for the use of Jihad. Al Qaeda = Islam. Islam = Al Qaeda.
Bar Islam from entering the U.S. borders because Islam is a Terror Organization.
Islam wishes to establish itself as the Government in the U.S.
gravenimage says
Al-Shabaab says U.S. denial of entry to Somali World Cup referee shows a ‘pattern of discrimination against Somalis’
……………………………………………………..
So–a *Jihad terror group* is saying that the US is discriminating? How nuts is this? Jihad terrorists *should* be kept out.