Somali ref Artan picked for showpiece UEFA game after being barred by US from World Cup

GENEVA: Somali referee Omar Artan who was barred by the United States from the World Cup was picked on Thursday for the showcase UEFA Super Cup game in August.
European soccer body UEFA said Artan will referee the Aug. 12 game between Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the Europa League winner. The game will be in Salzburg, Austria.
“Football is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,” UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement.
Artan got a hero’s welcome returning to Somalia on Wednesday, days after he was refused entry in Miami and questioned for 11 hours by US authorities despite being picked by FIFA for World Cup duty. He was sent away on a flight to Turkiye.

Top African referee Omar Artan to officiate 2026 UEFA Super Cup after being unable to participate
in FIFA World Cup 2026

Artan has been on the FIFA international list since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025https://t.co/zPhWxRdpLl

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) June 11, 2026

US officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though without providing proof.
Artan’s treatment heightened concerns about US immigration policy around the World Cup that was criticized by the United Nations ‘ top human rights official on Wednesday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday it was powerless to prevent Artan’s ordeal, and “we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.”
The 34-year-old referee was judged the best in Africa last season and worked the decisive game in the continent’s Champions League final last month.
Čeferin said UEFA worked on the plan with the