“Fifa is not involved in the immigration process, including the issuing of visas, and the authorities have been informed that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at this time.”
“In line with previous FIFA events, the participating government will ultimately decide who will receive a visa and who will be accepted into their country.”
Referee chief Pierluigi Collina has established a training ground for 52 referees and 88 assistant referees, in Miami.
All on-pitch officials must stay in Florida for training, preparation and protection.
Therefore it will not be possible for Artan to live outside the United States and only referee games played in Canada or Mexico.
A senior advisor to the youth and sports department in Somalia confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan was carrying official documents.
A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan’s passport had been revoked to limit his travel after previous visa difficulties.
Speaking in a statement to Reuters, Artan said that despite the circumstances he was in good shape and focused on the next challenge.
“I would like to thank Fifa and Caf for supporting me and I promise that I will maintain the quality of my referees as I focus on the future,” he said.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and I wish my teammates the best of luck during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in the upcoming tournaments.”
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted Fifa seeking an urgent clarification.
Speaking to the BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “Although I will not be able to enter the derogation. [derogatory information] so I can tell you that it was the right decision by the border guards and I support that decision.”
The World Cup starts on 11 June and ends on 19 July.
An official in Somalia’s national football league, Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and has also officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Artan’s plight is the latest incident at the World Cup, as Iran’s football federation said on Tuesday it had canceled its distribution of group stage tickets.
Pundit and England striker, Ian Wright, called the tournament “the World Cup of Chaos”, saying in a video on Instagram: “Every few hours, it’s another story about the fans contradicted, the player is denied, the officials deny it, the journalists deny it, now we are answering for ourselves.
“I’m laughing but it’s not funny. Actually it’s not funny and it has to be said. Expensive tickets, expensive accommodation, roof top transport.
“Is this the way athletes behave in the biggest game, the biggest tournament in the world? We don’t hear more? We see the way Qatar has been dragged, don’t we hear it anymore? Is this really the spirit of football?
“I feel for the American fans who are looking forward to this, how ashamed they must be. This must be very embarrassing for them.
“This is the World Cup of chaos.”
