Somali referee Omar Artan has been ruled out of the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, officials and FIFA have confirmed.

US Customs and Border Protection said a Somali national scheduled for the tournament was declared “inadmissible due to vetting concerns” and refused entry.

FIFA confirmed that Artan would not take part in officiating duties, noting that host countries retain final authority over visa and entry decisions and that his status would not be changed.

Artan, named Africa’s best referee last year, reportedly held a valid visa despite Somalia being under a U.S. travel restriction.

The decision has drawn criticism from Somali officials, who say it undermines fairness and sporting merit. FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration process.

The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins this week in Mexico City.