"It is unfortunate as well what happened to... Omar, the referee from Somalia. But again, we don't control everything," Infantino said at a press conference on the eve of the tournament.

"We try always to find solutions, but then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces, we are a sports organization," he added.

Artan, voted Africa's top men's referee last year, insisted he had the correct visa to enter the United States but he was turned back at Miami International Airport and then put on a flight back to Turkey at the weekend.

A US State Department official said the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations", therefore "making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States".

Artan would have been the first match official from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup finals.