Fifa has paid a Somali referee his full World Cup fee following a public outcry over the governing body’s initial refusal to cover his expenses. Sources confirm the referee, who officiated at the 2022 tournament, was originally offered only a fraction of the standard match fee, sparking accusations of discrimination and financial exploitation. British officials, including members of Parliament, have now demanded a full investigation into Fifa’s payment practices and the treatment of officials from developing football nations.
Documents obtained by this newsroom reveal that the referee, whose identity has been withheld for his safety, was initially quoted a fee of $5,000 for officiating a group-stage match. Standard fees for referees from established football nations are typically $50,000 for the same duty. The discrepancy was flagged by the Somali Football Federation, which alerted the International Football Association Board. Within hours, the story broke across major outlets, and Fifa faced a wave of criticism from human rights groups and football governance watchdogs.
‘This is a clear case of systemic inequality within the world’s most powerful sports organisation,’ said a source close to the federation. ‘The referee was expected to travel from Mogadishu, arrange his own accommodation, and cover his own expenses, all on a fraction of what his European counterparts receive.’
Fifa initially defended its position, claiming that payment scales were ‘standardised based on confederation classifications’ and that the referee had been informed of the terms in advance. But the backlash intensified when it emerged that the referee had not even received his airfare or per diem for the duration of the tournament. British officials, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, issued an urgent statement calling for ‘immediate and transparent correction’ of the matter.
‘We will not stand by while officials from the world’s poorest nations are treated as second-class participants in a global event meant to unite,’ said a government spokesperson. ‘The United Kingdom is committed to ensuring that all football stakeholders are treated fairly and equitably. Fifa must now open its books and explain how its payment policies were devised.’
Within 48 hours of the story being published, Fifa reversed its decision. The referee received the full standard fee of $50,000, along with retroactive reimbursement for travel and accommodation expenses. However, sources familiar with the transaction say the payment was made ‘reluctantly’ and only after private pressure from several top-tier national associations, including the English FA and the German DFB.
‘Fifa did not act out of moral conviction. They acted because they knew this scandal could torpedo their already shaky reputation,’ said a financial analyst who tracks sports governance. ‘The question now is: how many other referees, coaches, and administrators from Africa, Asia, and South America have been systematically underpaid for decades? This is not an isolated incident.’
Requests for comment from Fifa’s finance department were met with a standard reply: ‘Fifa is committed to fair and transparent remuneration for all match officials. We have resolved this matter to the satisfaction of all parties involved.’ But internal memos obtained by this newsroom suggest that the issue of unequal pay for officials from non-European confederations has been raised by staff members several times since 2018, only to be buried by senior executives.
‘They knew. They always knew,’ a former Fifa consultant said. ‘This is what happens when you concentrate power and money in a few hands. The rest are just happy to be invited to the party.’
The Somali referee, who spoke to this newsroom through a translator, expressed gratitude but also fear. ‘I am thankful for the support of my federation and the global football community. But I am also afraid. I do not know what will happen when I return home. There are people who will see this as a victory, and others who will see it as a provocation.’
British officials have now called for a full audit of Fifa’s referee payment structure, and the matter is expected to be raised at the next meeting of the FIFA Council. For the moment, the referee can breathe. But the money trail has only just begun to unwind.
