Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a 34-year-old professional football referee from Somalia, has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. The match takes place at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday, August 12, at 8pm local time.
World Cup denial
Artan's summer took a dramatic turn on June 6, 2026, when he arrived at Miami International Airport and was denied entry into the United States by Customs and Border Protection officials. No specific public reason was issued for his repatriation, though reports noted that Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
Historic appointment
By stepping onto the pitch in Salzburg, Artan will become the first non-European official to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup since the competition began 53 years ago. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the decision reflected Artan's exceptional refereeing abilities and highlighted a recent memorandum of understanding between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in refereeing standards.
Career highlights
Artan's reputation grew when he was named the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year, shortly after becoming the first Somali to oversee a CAF Champions League final. He was selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, set to be the first Somali referee at a finals tournament, and received a warm reception on his return to Mogadishu.
Despite missing the World Cup, Artan has spoken publicly about his gratitude for global support and has stayed match-sharp by officiating local league fixtures in Somalia and the Kuwaiti Premier League title decider at the end of June.
