Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup following his exclusion from the FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The announcement, made by UEFA on Thursday, comes days after Artan was denied entry into the United States, a development that prevented him from participating in the ongoing FIFA World Cup despite being among the selected match officials.
Artan will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg. The match will see the UEFA Champions League winners face the UEFA Europa League champions in European football’s traditional season-opening fixture.
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UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin described Artan as one of Africa’s most accomplished referees, saying the appointment reflects his outstanding performances and growing reputation on the international stage.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young yet experienced referee who has consistently demonstrated his quality at the highest level of African football,” Ceferin said. “Football should unite people, and this appointment reflects UEFA’s confidence in his abilities and professionalism.”
UEFA explained that the decision followed consultations with Confederation of African Football and forms part of ongoing cooperation between both football governing bodies to strengthen the development of refereeing across Africa and Europe.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the move, describing it as a landmark achievement for African match officials.
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“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the African continent proud. His appointment to officiate the UEFA Super Cup is recognition of his world-class competence and dedication to the game,” Motsepe stated.
Artan’s latest assignment comes amid continued debate over his exclusion from the World Cup. Reports indicated that U.S. authorities denied him entry based on immigration concerns, a decision that sparked widespread reactions within the global football community.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading referees, Artan was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 and became the first Somali official selected to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. His appointment to the UEFA Super Cup is being viewed as a strong endorsement of his integrity, professionalism, and standing within international football.
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