Somali referee banned by US to officiate UEFA Super Cup

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA’s Super Cup, European football’s governing body announced.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin poured praise on the Somali referee in a statement released a few hours before global body FIFA’s flagship World Cup was to start.

“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football (CAF),” said Ceferin.

“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.”

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UEFA said that after talks with the African confederation, it “has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup” on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.

Artan’s case has been on of many incidents to taint the runup to FIFA’s World Cup.

UEFA said Artan’s appointment came in the framework of an accord between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation.

“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,” it said.

African pride

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had “made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent, extremely proud”.

“His receipt of the CAF men’s referee of the year award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability