A top Somali referee will not be officiating at the upcoming World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. The referee, who has not been named, was set to take charge of at least six matches at the tournament, but their visa application was rejected.
The decision has left the Somali Football Federation (SFF) frustrated and disappointed. 'We are extremely disappointed with the decision to deny our referee entry into the US,' said a SFF spokesperson. 'This is a huge blow to our team and we are working closely with FIFA to resolve the issue.'
The reason behind the denial remains unclear, but it is believed to be related to security concerns. The US has been tightening its immigration laws in recent years, and it is possible that the referee's application was rejected due to these new rules.
The World Cup is set to kick off in June, and the Somali referee was one of several officials selected to take charge of matches. Their absence will be felt, particularly in the group stages where they were set to officiate.
The SFF has vowed to appeal the decision and ensure that their referee is able to participate in the tournament. 'We will do everything in our power to ensure that our referee is able to take part in the World Cup,' said the SFF spokesperson.