Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate UEFA Super Cup after US World Cup denial

From World Cup exclusion to European showcase

Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee, will officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday, 12 August at 21:00 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. The Champions League winners PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, face Europa League winners Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, with a first trophy of the season at stake. Artan will become the first non-European referee to take charge of a UEFA Super Cup match. The appointment comes two months after he was denied entry to the United States on 6 June at Miami international airport, where he had travelled as part of FIFA's selected panel of referees for the 2026 World Cup.

A political flashpoint

US authorities interrogated Artan for eleven hours at Miami before transferring him to a detention cell, and he was subsequently sent back to Turkey. The US State Department justified the refusal by stating the referee was "linked to individuals suspected of belonging to terrorist organisations," which made him "ineligible for entry." Artan rejected the accusations. The episode unfolded against a backdrop of hostile rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who in December 2025 launched a verbal attack on Somalia, saying migrants from the country should not be welcome and calling the country "rotten." Four days after the Miami refusal, thousands gathered in a stadium in Mogadishu to welcome Artan home as a hero.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to defend Artan.

The president of FIFA must prove that he is stronger than his good friend in the White House.

Infantino's own response was more reserved.

What happened to him is unfortunate, but we don't control everything.

UEFA's diplomatic gesture

UEFA appointed Artan to the Super Cup within the framework of a cooperation protocol signed at the end of April 2026 with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), aimed at encouraging collaboration between the two confederations. The appointment also carries political weight for UEFA, which has been a frequent critic of FIFA. Artan arrived in Salzburg on Monday and said his family was incredibly happy when they heard the news, noting that a large Somali community in Europe and Austria welcomed the appointment. He expressed gratitude for the worldwide support he received after the World Cup denial.

It was a very difficult period. Many people show me sympathy, because when you have worked for many years to carry out a project and ultimately you cannot do it, it is very hard.

He added that he had been lucky but worked hard to reach this point and is genuinely proud. Artan also highlighted the mutual benefits of the UEFA-CAF relationship, noting that referees from both confederations can learn from each other.

A trailblazing career

Artan joined FIFA's international referees list in 2018. In 2024, he became the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations. The following year, he was named CAF Best Male Referee of the Year and became the first Somali to referee a CAF Champions League final. He has officiated four CAF Champions League matches in the most recent season, along with Africa Cup of Nations fixtures and World Cup qualifiers. Artan, who lost his father at a young age and grew up in difficult circumstances, said hardship did not stop him from pursuing his dreams.

Artan will be assisted on Wednesday by Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed from Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe from Kenya. Rade Obrenovic from Slovenia serves as fourth official, and Italy's Marco Di Bello is the VAR. Aston Villa will be without the injured Johan Manzambi. Artan offered a message to referees starting their careers from the bottom: "I think if I can succeed, anyone can."