UEFA appoints Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate Super Cup after US World Cup entry denial
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Abdullateef Abdullateef
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12, offering the match as a high-profile platform after Artan was denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Artan, named Africa’s Referee of the Year for 2025 and the first Somali selected to referee at a World Cup was reportedly turned back at Miami airport despite holding a valid visa.
U.S. authorities cited vetting concerns and alleged links to terrorism, a decision that prompted FIFA to remove him from the World Cup officiating roster and sparked criticism from Somali and international football circles.
UEFA’s decision to name Artan for the Super Cup is being widely read as both a recognition of his professional standing and a significant opportunity to restore his international profile after the setback in the U.S.
The match, pitting French champions PSG against England’s Aston Villa, will give Artan a global audience on European football’s stage and subject him to intense scrutiny and attention.
