Somali Referee Omar Artan to Keep Full World Cup Fee Despite Visa Row

In a surprising development, Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full officiating fee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite being forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a visa dispute. Artan, a rising star in African refereeing, was originally part of the match officials' lineup for the group stage fixtures. However, a bureaucratic visa issue prevented him from traveling to the host nations, leading to his premature exit from the knockout rounds. FIFA has confirmed that Artan will...