UEFA has announced that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. This appointment comes after Artan was denied entry to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he had been selected as one of Africa's refereeing representatives.
UEFA Statement on Artan's Appointment
The decision was confirmed in a UEFA statement released on Thursday. It read: "Following discussions with its sister confederation, Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), UEFA has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, which will take place on 12 August in Salzburg between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC."
The statement highlighted Artan's achievements: "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."
World Cup Exclusion and Cooperation Between UEFA and CAF
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. The UEFA statement added: "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."
Artan's appointment marks a significant moment for Somali football officiating and highlights the ongoing collaboration between European and African football governing bodies.
