SOMALI referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, just days after losing the opportunity to work at the FIFA World Cup followi...
SOMALI referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, just days after losing the opportunity to work at the FIFA World Cup following his denial of entry into the United States. (Reuters)
UEFA announced on Thursday that Artan will take charge of the Super Cup clash between reigning UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa. The match is scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. (Reuters)
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The appointment follows discussions between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under a recently strengthened cooperation agreement between the two organisations. UEFA said the decision was made in recognition of Artan’s performances and standing within African football. (Reuters)
Artan, 34, was among the referees selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup and was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the tournament. However, he was unable to take part after being denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa and FIFA accreditation. (Sky Sports)
According to international media reports, Artan was stopped upon arrival in Miami and later returned overseas, resulting in his exclusion from the World Cup referee programme. FIFA subsequently confirmed that he would not be able to train or officiate at the tournament. (Sky Sports)
The decision attracted widespread attention across the football world. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the governing body was unable to intervene in immigration matters handled by host nations. (The Times of India)
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan’s abilities and said the official had demonstrated his quality at the highest level of African football. He added that football should serve as a force that connects people across borders. (sports.yahoo.com)
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the appointment and described it as recognition of both Artan’s achievements and the growing reputation of African referees on the global stage. (theguardian.com)
Artan has built a strong reputation in recent years. He joined FIFA’s international referees list in 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025. Among the major matches he has officiated was the second leg of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League final. (uk.sports.yahoo.com)
His appointment to the UEFA Super Cup is being viewed as a significant milestone in his career and a major opportunity to officiate one of Europe’s most prestigious football fixtures. The match will officially open the European club season and place Artan on one of football’s biggest stages. (Reuters)
