Federation sets condition for Omar Artan to officiate in Egyptian league

The Federation has set a condition for Omar Artan to officiate in the Egyptian league: he must reside in Egypt if his participation is approved. The referees’ committee, chaired by Essam Abdel Fattah, has supported the request after receiving an official letter from its Somali counterpart. The final decision, however, rests with the Federation’s board.

The committee considers Artan’s presence an asset to the competition, describing him as one of the continent’s most prominent referees in recent times. In the first-division championship, the request has therefore received an initial endorsement, while the board still has to decide. A decision is expected at its Monday meeting, according to the announced schedule.

The request follows Artan being denied entry to the United States when he arrived at Miami airport last June. He was consequently unable to referee matches at the 2026 World Cup.

The board had begun reviewing the Somali referee’s request before preparing to determine its position at its next meeting. The committee’s favourable view does not amount to final approval: Artan’s participation remains subject to the board’s decision and his residence in Egypt.