Thursday June 11, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was prevented from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup in August, UEFA announced.
Artan will officiate the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on Aug. 12, according to UEFA.
The appointment follows discussions between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football after Artan, 34, was refused entry at Miami International Airport despite holding a valid travel visa.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said the decision was intended to recognize Artan’s refereeing ability and show solidarity after he missed the World Cup.
“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,” Ceferin said. “I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Motsepe said Artan had made Africa proud and described the appointment as an honor for African referees.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide,” Motsepe said.
Artan had been expected to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup after being named to FIFA’s final list of match officials for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His selection had been celebrated in Somalia as a historic achievement and a source of hope for young athletes in a country still recovering from decades of conflict and instability.
Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and later made history as the first Somali official to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations, taking charge of the group-stage match between Tunisia and Namibia in January 2024.
In May, he officiated the decisive leg of the African Champions League final in Morocco, one of the continent’s most important club matches.
He was named Africa’s best male referee in 2025 and is widely regarded as one of the continent’s leading match officials.
After returning to Mogadishu following the U.S. entry denial, Artan said he still hoped to officiate at a future World Cup and urged Somali youth to remain proud of their country.
