Somali referee Omar Artan who was denied US entry to Officiate UEFA Super Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan has been handed a landmark appointment by UEFA just days after being denied entry to the United States for FIFA World Cup duties, in a move widely seen as a powerful endorsement of one of Africa’s most respected match officials.
The 34-year-old will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on 12 August, becoming the first African referee to officiate a major UEFA final.
The appointment comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Artan’s exclusion from the United States. The Somali official had travelled to Miami this week to join FIFA’s World Cup refereeing team but was refused entry by U.S. authorities over what Customs and Border Protection described as “vetting concerns”.
Artan subsequently returned to Somalia, sparking criticism of FIFA’s handling of the situation. FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged observers to “chill and relax” when questioned about why the governing body had been unable to secure Artan’s entry into the country.
Despite the setback, UEFA has moved swiftly to recognise Artan’s standing within the game.
In a statement announcing the appointment, UEFA praised Artan’s achievements, describing him as one of the world’s leading referees. He has been on FIFA’s international list since 2018 and recently officiated the second leg of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League final. Last year, he was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year.
UEFA said the decision was made in cooperation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under a recently signed partnership agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two organisations, including in referee development.
“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,” the statement said.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin described Artan as “an excellent young but already experienced referee” who had consistently demonstrated his quality at the highest level of African football.
“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,” Ceferin said, thanking CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting the initiative.
CAF President Motsepe hailed the appointment as a proud moment for Somalia and the African continent.
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud,” he said.
“His appointment reflects both his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect he enjoys. It is also a powerful example of football’s ability to bring people together across continents.”
Artan’s selection for the Super Cup ensures that a week which began with disappointment has ended with a historic breakthrough, underlining his growing reputation on the global stage and marking a significant milestone for African refereeing.
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