Somali refree denied US entry, Omar Artan appointed to officiate UEFA Super Cup

UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The match will be played on August 12 in Salzburg between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.

Artan, who has been on FIFA‘s international referees list since 2018, is regarded as one of Africa‘s top match officials. Among the notable matches he has overseen is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. He was also named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.

Although selected by FIFA as one of the match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Artan was unable to participate after not being allowed entry into the United States.

UEFA said the appointment was made under the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between UEFA and CAF to strengthen cooperation in areas including refereeing.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as an excellent young referee who has already proven himself at the highest level of African football, adding that the appointment reflects UEFA’s respect for his officiating abilities.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan’s achievements have made Somalia and Africa proud, describing the appointment as a significant honour for African referees and a strong example of football’s power to unite people across continents.