Breaking: Somali referee lands UEFA Super Cup final after World Cup denial

by · The Eagle Online

Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, weeks after missing the FIFA World Cup following a U.S. immigration dispute.

UEFA confirmed that Artan will take charge of the match scheduled for August 12 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria.

The appointment makes Artan the first Somali referee to officiate a UEFA Super Cup final.

The fixture will pit UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa.

Artan’s selection comes shortly after he was forced to withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 34-year-old, who was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was denied entry into the United States despite travelling with a valid visa and diplomatic passport.

According to reports, Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul and underwent an 11-hour immigration interview before being declared inadmissible by U.S. authorities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly cited vetting concerns, while an administration official alleged an “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”

Artan rejected the allegation and maintained he had done nothing wrong.

He said: “I have no idea why I was rejected and I have never spoken to anyone illicit.”

FIFA subsequently removed him from the tournament roster, stating that it could not override the sovereign immigration laws of a host nation.

UEFA’s decision to hand Artan the Super Cup final has been viewed as a significant vote of confidence in the Somali official.

The appointment was reportedly finalised under a Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

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UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills.”

CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the move, describing it as an example of football “uniting people from Africa and Europe.”

Artan has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018 and continues to break new ground for Somali football officials.

Among his recent achievements was becoming the first Somali referee to handle a continental final when he officiated the CAF Confederation Cup final involving Egypt’s Pyramids FC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

His latest appointment now places him at the centre of one of European football’s most prestigious annual fixtures.

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