Fifa has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will receive the full officiating fee for the 2025 World Cup, following a British-led campaign that highlighted a stark disparity in payments between officials from different nations. The decision, announced this morning, closes a chapter that exposed the unfinished business of global equity in football’s governing body.
Artan, a 34-year-old from Mogadishu, was selected as an assistant referee for the tournament held in Qatar. He travelled to Doha at his own expense, having been told his fee would be a fraction of what his European counterparts were paid. The standard rate for referees from wealthier nations is $50,000 for the tournament; Artan was offered $5,000. The discrepancy came to light when British MPs and human rights groups, including the Football Supporters’ Association, questioned why Fifa’s own regulations on equal pay were not being applied.
“This is not about charity; it is about fair compensation for a job done under the same conditions,” said Dr. Helena Vance, Science & Climate Correspondent, drawing a parallel to the energy sector. “Just as we must ensure fair access to renewable resources across nations, so too must international bodies enforce equity in their own systems.”
Fifa initially justified the lower payment by citing Artan’s lack of experience at the highest level, despite him having officiated in African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers. However, under sustained pressure, the organisation relented. The full fee, backdated to the start of the tournament, has now been wired to Artan’s account.
The campaign, led by Labour MP Clive Efford and supported by the shadow sports minister, argued that the disparity was rooted in systemic discrimination. “Football should not have a two-tier system,” Efford stated. “Artan performed his duties with the same professionalism as any other official. Fifa must now review its payment scales for all tournaments.”
Artan himself, reached via satellite phone from Mogadishu, expressed gratitude but also caution. “This is a victory, but many referees from Africa and Asia still face these problems. The real victory will be when no referee has to fight for what is rightfully theirs.”
The case has broader implications beyond football. It mirrors global disparities in climate finance, where developing nations receive a fraction of the funding needed to adapt to extreme weather events. “The physical reality of our world is one of interconnected systems,” said Vance. “Whether it is carbon emissions or football fees, the cost of inaction falls on those least able to bear it. Fifa’s decision to pay Artan is a small step, but it must become the norm, not the exception.”
Fifa has announced a review of its fee structure, though no timeline has been given. For Artan, the immediate concern is now whether he will be assigned to future tournaments. His contract with the Somali Football Federation runs until 2026. The federation has praised the outcome, calling it a “milestone for Somali representation in global sport.”
As the final whistle blows on this particular dispute, one thing is clear: the demand for fairness, once triggered, is not easily silenced. The next hurdle will be ensuring that the lesson is applied consistently, not just in football, but in all arenas where inequality persists.
