Tuesday 9 June 2026 {HMC}Â Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Cartan has spoken about the challenges that prevented him from taking part in the FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States. Despite the setback, he expressed optimism and pledged to continue his professional journey in international football officiating.
Below is a statement issued by referee Omar Cartan:
“Despite the current circumstances, I remain in good spirits and fully focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” said Omar Cartan while addressing the issue surrounding his blocked trip to the United States.
“I sincerely thank FIFA and CAF for the continuous support they have always given me. I remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of officiating while focusing on future opportunities,” he said in his statement.
“I would also like to thank the entire football family for the encouraging messages they have sent me.
I wish my fellow referees success and the very best during the World Cup, and I hope to reunite with them in future competitions,” concluded Somali referee Omar Cartan.
