Africa angered by US denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan | OneFootball

Africa has reacted with fury after 34-year-old Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States. According to L'Équipe, neither FIFA nor CAF has explained the decision, and CAF has so far stayed silent.

Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana called it a grave insult to the continent and asked why its leading official had been turned away.

Abdoulaye Thiam, AIPS Africa president, is working with FIFA and Senegal’s foreign ministry to unlock media visas. Senegal have 43 codes, with 95% approved but US-only entry, so crews cannot reach Mexico or Canada, where they face Iraq on 26 June. He called the referee case the last straw.

Supporter groups, roughly 300 people, are set to stay home because costs and visas are prohibitive.

In DR Congo, Ebola-related measures have compounded problems. Jenovic Mbowa said the US embassy shut on the day he sought a visa, after he had bought three tickets at 380 dollars that he must now resell, losing 50 dollars each. Canada has imposed a three-month closure for DRC travellers, while the US requires 21 days of quarantine.

Only holders of 10-year visas can travel, using the 8 FIFA codes. Another Congolese reporter said anger is real but rarely voiced online because social accounts are checked, and reaching Mexico also looks complicated.

In Côte d’Ivoire, Patrick Guitey will work from Abidjan, saying past World Cups in 2006, 2010 and 2014 felt welcoming, but many now feel unwanted in the United States.

Source: L'Équipe