A referee who was barred from officiating a football match has sparked a political row after claiming the Home Office wrongly denied his right to work. Artan, a qualified official who was set to take charge of a lower league fixture, was stopped by immigration enforcement officers on Saturday. He was told his visa did not permit him to work as a referee, a decision he has publicly challenged.
‘I have the right papers and a valid visa. This is a mistake,’ Artan told reporters outside his home in Birmingham. The case has prompted Labour MP Lisa Nandy to call for an urgent inquiry into the Home Office’s handling of skilled worker visas. ‘This is yet another example of a hostile environment that penalises talented individuals who want to contribute to our society,’ Nandy said.
The Home Office declined to comment on Artan’s specific case, citing privacy laws. However, a spokesperson said all visa applications are assessed in line with immigration rules. The row comes as the government faces mounting pressure over its post-Brexit immigration system, which unions say is too rigid for sectors like football that rely on specialist workers.
Artan’s case has resonated with grassroots football communities, where referees are already in short supply. ‘We cannot afford to lose officials over bureaucratic errors,’ said a spokesperson for the Referees’ Association. The Home Office has been asked to provide a full explanation to the parliamentary committee on immigration by the end of the month. Meanwhile, Artan remains barred from officiating, pending a review of his immigration status.
