Fifa has reversed its decision to withhold full payment from a Somali referee who officiated at the Women’s World Cup, following a campaign led by the UK government and human rights groups. The governing body confirmed it had paid the official, Suad Muse, the standard match fee of $10,000 after initially offering only $1,000, citing her country’s “unstable banking system” as the reason for the reduced sum. The move was condemned as discriminatory and a breach of Fifa’s own fair-play principles, sparking a coordinated intervention by the UK’s Foreign Office and the Football Association.
In a statement, Fifa said it had “resolved the administrative issue” and that Muse would receive the full fee. The case highlights the broader challenges faced by referees from developing nations, who often encounter obstacles in accessing payments and resources. Muse, who made history as the first Somali woman to referee a World Cup match, expressed relief but called for systemic change.
“It should not take a global campaign for a referee to be paid what she is owed,” she said. The UK government described the outcome as a victory for fairness, with a spokesperson telling the BBC: “We are proud to have stood with Suad and shown that football must be a level playing field for all.
