Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has submitted an official request to officiate in the Egyptian Premier League and settle in Egypt, in a move that could see one of Africa’s top match officials join the domestic refereeing system.
Essam Abdel-Fattah, Chairman of the Referees Committee at the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), revealed that Artan reached out to him and sent a formal letter through the Somali Football Federation. However, the execution of the request remains subject to the approval of the EFA Board of Directors.
“Omar Artan contacted me today expressing his desire to referee in the Egyptian League,” Abdel-Fattah stated, confirming the Referees Committee’s welcoming stance on the initiative before referring the matter to federation officials for a final decision.
From a regulatory standpoint, there are no refereeing obstacles preventing such a move. Law 5 of the Laws of the Game outlines a referee’s authority without stipulating that they must hold the nationality of the host country. Furthermore, Egyptian Premier League regulations already permit the hiring of foreign officiating crews for select matches upon request and payment of costs.
However, officiating on a regular basis differs from a single-match appointment. Artan will require administrative approval and accreditation from the EFA, alignment regarding match assignments, and completed residency and work procedures, alongside coordination with the Somali Football Federation, CAF, and FIFA.
Artan’s request comes on the heels of a difficult experience at the 2026 World Cup. Having been selected as one of seven African center referees for the tournament—poised to make history as the first Somali referee at the World Cup—he was ultimately unable to participate after being denied entry to the United States.
In response, UEFA, in coordination with CAF, appointed the 34-year-old official to take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the French side in Salzburg.
Artan boasts a distinguished track record: an international referee since 2018, he was crowned African Referee of the Year in 2025 and took charge of the second leg of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League final. The ball is now firmly in the EFA’s court to decide on a move that is legally sound and feasible, though far from automatic.
