Referee Omar Artan, barred from the World Cup for political reasons, rewarded by Uefa

Omar Artan was among the 52 referees selected to officiate at this year's World Cup, but was denied entry to the United States for political reasons. UEFA decided to compensate him by assigning him to officiate an important match in its own competitions. Artan endured a harrowing ordeal due to the political circumstances surrounding his visa denial.