Somali referee Artan urges officials to dream big ahead of UEFA Super Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan urged aspiring officials to “never stop dreaming” ahead of making history as the first non-European to referee the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday in Salzburg. The 34-year-old has emerged as one of African football’s leading referees, becoming the first Somali to officiate a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final and being named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year. UEFA said Artan’s appointment was made under a cooperation agreement signed with CAF this year aimed at strengthening collaboration. “This is a great honor for Omar Artan and for African referees,” CAF president Patrice Motsepe said in comments published by UEFA on Monday. Artan was selected for this year’s World Cup but was barred from entering the United States by US Customs and Border Protection despite having a valid visa. “It was a very tough period,” Artan said.
