UEFA has officially appointed Somalian referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
This historic announcement comes as a direct response to US authorities denying Artan entry into the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—a decision that sparked massive controversy. US President Donald Trump defended the move, stating the country works hard to ensure the entry of the “right people,” while US intelligence reports alleged the ban was due to “terrorist links.”
Artan was deported to Istanbul before returning to Somalia, where he received a hero’s welcome and met with the Somalian President, who offered full state support following his shattered World Cup dream.
Moved by the situation, UEFA officials decided to grant Artan another world-class opportunity, making him the first African referee in history to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, scheduled for August 12.
The decision was coordinated with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under a mutual cooperation agreement aimed at developing refereeing across both continents. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan as a “young but highly experienced referee who has proven his worth at the highest levels,” while CAF President Patrice Motsepe stated that Artan made Somalia and the entire continent proud.
Artan was named Africa’s best referee in 2025. His biggest career match to date was the first leg of the CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids two seasons ago.
