Omar Artan was on the verge of making history as the first Somali referee ever to officiate at a World Cup finals. Then US immigration authorities stepped in and denied him entry into the country.
That is the full extent of what has been confirmed about his situation. The details surrounding the specific grounds for his denial, and what happens next for him, remain unclear from available reporting.
What is not unclear is what this moment represents. A milestone that would have meant everything to Somali football fans has been taken away before it could happen, and that absence carries its own weight.
Originally published by BBC Africa.