Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, just days after being denied entry into the United States for the FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old will take charge of the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, one of Europe’s top one-off fixtures.
Artan had been selected as a match official for the 2026 World Cup, a historic milestone that would have made him the first Somali referee at the tournament.
However, he was stopped on arrival in the US despite holding a valid visa, with authorities citing unspecified vetting concerns.
FIFA later confirmed he would miss the competition, noting entry decisions rest with host nations.
In a swift response, UEFA moved to appoint him for the Super Cup following discussions with Confederation of African Football. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said the decision recognises Artan’s quality, while CAF president Patrice Motsepe described it as a proud moment for African football.
Artan, the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year, has officiated at major continental tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations. He returned to Somalia to a hero’s welcome after the World Cup incident.
His rapid turnaround, from exclusion to officiating a major European final, has intensified debate around politics in sport while highlighting the rising profile of African referees on the global stage.
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