Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport and deported on June 6, 2026. On The MeidasTouch Podcast, host Ben Meiselas criticized the deportation as a flashpoint of discriminatory border enforcement.
Meiselas described the referee as a hero in Somalia and Africa who was blocked by discriminatory policies, later adding that Omar Artan is "the top African referee, one of FIFA's" officials, yet he was kicked out of the country despite holding a valid visa.
The host also tied the incident to broader political targeting, noting that Donald Trump "goes after the Somalian community" and accusing officials of defaming the referee. "You've now defamed the guy, implied that he's a criminal or that he looks like a criminal," Meiselas said, targeting the defensive rhetoric of immigration authorities.
As FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces mounting questions over World Cup entry denials, the fallout from Omar Artan's deportation is putting US border policies under an international microscope ahead of major global tournaments.