Omar Artan, the Somali referee who was controversially denied entry into the United States for the FIFA World Cup, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the upcoming Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
New Role for Artan
UEFA announced that Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, scheduled for 12 August in Salzburg, Austria. The match pits UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC.
Artan had been selected as one of Africa's refereeing representatives for the World Cup, but was turned away by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Miami International Airport and placed on a return flight to Turkey. Artan maintained that he "had the right papers and the right visa," but the Trump administration claimed he was denied entry because he "was seeking admission to the United States."
Outrage and Solidarity
The decision sparked widespread outrage across the football world, with many rallying behind the official in a show of solidarity. UEFA's appointment demonstrates their support for Artan, entrusting him with one of the most prestigious matches at the start of the forthcoming season.
In a statement, UEFA said: "Following discussions with its sister confederation, Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), UEFA has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup."
Artan's Credentials
Despite his young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world's top referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018. Among the most notable matches he has officiated is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. In recognition of his performances, he received the CAF Men's Referee of the Year Award 2025.
Artan had been included by FIFA in the match officials' list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 but could not participate as he was not allowed to enter the United States.
UEFA-CAF Cooperation
The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match has been made in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing. UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination.
UEFA president Alexander Ceferin commented: "Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football. Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative."
