A British-trained football referee who was denied entry to the United States has been greeted as a hero in his native Somalia, sources confirm. The official, a dual UK-Somali citizen, was stopped at a US airport last week and barred from entering the country. He had been invited to officiate a friendly match but was turned away without explanation.
Upon his return to Mogadishu, hundreds of fans lined the streets, waving flags and chanting his name. The incident has sparked international outcry, with human rights groups accusing US authorities of racial profiling. The referee, who fled Somalia as a child, said he was 'deeply hurt' by the rejection.
'I represented Britain on the pitch, but they saw only my birthplace,' he told this reporter. 'The welcome back home reminds me why I referee for peace.' Uncovered documents show the US Department of Homeland Security flagged his name after a routine background check, citing 'inconsistencies' in his travel history.
The official's legal team is preparing a challenge. Meanwhile, the Somali Football Federation has cancelled all future matches with US-linked teams in protest. The referee's story has become a rallying cry against what many see as arbitrary border policies.
One source put it bluntly: 'He's a man of integrity, and the US showed its true colours.
