NEW YORK, June 8 (Xinhua) -- A Somali referee due to officiate in the FIFA World Cup has been denied entry to the United States, according to an official from his country's sports ministry.

Omar Artan, among the 52 referees designated by FIFA for the tournament which kicks off on Thursday, was set to be the first Somali referee to take charge of a game at the World Cup.

He is reported to have had a valid entry visa, but according to Cisse Aden Abshir, an advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, he was denied entry by U.S. immigration officials from entering at Miami International Airport and has had to fly back to Istanbul, where he had been staying.

"Omar Artan is among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community," Abshir said.

"Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit and the spirit of fair play," he added. ■