Fifa has paid the full match fee owed to Somali referee Ahmed Artan for his duties at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, resolving a dispute that had threatened to undermine the governing body’s commitment to equitable treatment of officials from less developed football nations. The payment, confirmed by both Fifa and Artan’s representatives on Tuesday, follows a campaign by British football administrators who invoked a longstanding principle of fairness in international sport.
Artan, 34, officiated as an assistant referee during the group stage of the tournament. Under standard Fifa remuneration guidelines, referees from countries with lower financial resources often receive only a portion of the fees paid to their counterparts from wealthier associations, a practice known as the ‘differential fee system’. In Artan’s case, the Somali Football Federation had requested that Fifa withhold the full amount, citing bilateral agreements that redirect a share of match fees to national associations for development purposes. However, Artan argued that he was entitled to the entirety of his earnings, a stance supported by the British Foreign Office and the international referees’ union.
The principle at stake, described by British officials as a ‘cornerstone of fair play’, holds that individuals should be compensated directly for their labour, regardless of the economic status of their home country. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said the government had raised the matter with Fifa ‘at the highest level’, emphasising that ‘the integrity of global sport depends on transparent and equitable treatment of all participants.’
Fifa’s decision to issue the full payment is likely to have broader implications for its compensation framework. The organisation has faced mounting criticism over the differential fee system, which is seen by some as perpetuating inequality within the sport. Richard Caborn, the former British sports minister who now advises Fifa on governance, described the outcome as ‘a victory for common sense and the values that underpin modern football’. Speaking to the BBC, he said: ‘Artan was doing the same job as any other referee. He should be paid the same. This is not charity; it is fairness.’
The Somali Football Federation, which had initially opposed the payment, has since issued a statement acknowledging Fifa’s autonomy on financial matters. In a brief note to Reuters, the federation said it would ‘continue to work with Fifa on sustainable funding models for referee development’.
Artan himself welcomed the resolution, telling reporters in Mogadishu that he would use the money to support his family and invest in grassroots refereeing programmes in Somalia. ‘This is not just about the money. It is about respect for the work we do,’ he said.
Fifa declined to comment on whether the case would prompt a formal review of its payment policies. However, sources close to the organisation indicated that the matter had ‘clarified the importance of individual contractual rights’.
The row had threatened to overshadow Artan’s historic role as the first Somali official at a World Cup. His appointment was hailed as a milestone for African refereeing, but the subsequent dispute over his fee had raised questions about the sincerity of Fifa’s diversity and inclusion commitments. With the payment now made, attention is likely to turn to the broader structural issues within international football governance.
This development reinforces the principle that international institutions must treat all individuals equally under their own rules. For now, Artan’s case has set a precedent that may embolden other officials from poorer nations to challenge similar arrangements. Whether Fifa will adapt its global payment system accordingly remains to be seen.
