UEFA announced on June 9 that it has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 European Super Cup, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa.
The decision came just hours before the opening of the 2026 World Cup, after Artan was denied entry to the United States, preventing him from participating as a referee in the tournament.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan as “an outstanding young referee with vast experience who has proven his ability at the highest level of the African Football Confederation (CAF).” He emphasized: “Football is about connecting people, and UEFA wants to show respect for Omar and his excellent refereeing talent – which earned him this prestigious nomination.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan “has made Somalia and all of Africa immensely proud.” His appointment as referee for the European Super Cup “is a great honor for Artan and for African referees, and a wonderful example of how football brings together people from Africa, Europe, and the world.”
Earlier, on June 7, Artan was denied entry at Miami International Airport. A U.S. State Department official told AFP that he “has ties to terrorism suspects” and therefore did not meet entry requirements. FIFA later confirmed Artan would no longer attend the World Cup.
Artan was named Africa’s best male referee in 2025 and was included in the list of 52 referees for the 2026 World Cup, making Somalis proud. He returned to his country on June 9, greeted as a hero, and pledged to attend the next World Cup in 2030.
