MOGADISHU — Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has reportedly encountered difficulties while traveling from Mogadishu to Germany after Ethiopian Airlines staff at Aden Adde International Airport allegedly tore up his boarding pass for the Addis Ababa–Frankfurt leg of his journey.
Artan departed Mogadishu and was scheduled to travel through Addis Ababa before continuing to Frankfurt, Germany, where he was expected to transit.
According to reports, Artan was initially issued a boarding pass after presenting a valid Schengen visa. However, shortly before departure, airline staff allegedly took the boarding pass and tore it up, preventing him from continuing his journey as scheduled.
The reported incident has attracted significant attention because Artan is expected to officiate an important European football fixture involving Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as part of the UEFA Super Cup.
Dispute Over Airline Service
The incident reportedly followed a Facebook post published by Artan in which he criticized Ethiopian Airlines’ service and flight delays. Although the post was later deleted, it reportedly generated considerable reactions on social media.
It remains unclear whether Artan’s earlier criticism was connected to the decision to prevent him from continuing his journey. No official evidence has been presented establishing a direct link between the Facebook post and the reported boarding incident.
The situation has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of Artan’s boarding pass and whether he was given an official explanation.
Awaiting Official Clarification
Ethiopian Airlines and relevant airport authorities have yet to publicly provide a detailed explanation of the reported incident.
Given Artan’s expected UEFA assignment, any prolonged disruption to his travel could potentially affect his ability to reach the venue and fulfill his officiating duties.
The football community and Somali public are closely following the situation as they await further clarification from the relevant authorities.
We wish Referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan a safe journey and hope the matter is resolved quickly so he can continue with his professional assignment.
