UEFA selects Somali referee Omar Artan for Super Cup match
UEFA has selected Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the European Super Cup in August after he was denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup
Somali football referee Omar Artan has been selected by UEFA to officiate the upcoming European Super Cup match, which is scheduled to take place this August. According to an official announcement made by the European football governing body on Thursday, Artan will be the referee in charge of the showcase game featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.[1]
The high-profile appointment follows the news that Artan has been barred from officiating at the upcoming World Cup. Although he was originally named among the official match referees selected for the 2026 World Cup tournament, he will be forced to miss the event because the United States government refused to grant him entry into the country.[1][2]
While the decision by the United States to deny him entry prevents him from taking part in the World Cup tournament, UEFA's selection ensures that the Somali referee will still oversee a major match. The Super Cup serves as a key showcase event, and Artan will be officiating the game between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa despite his exclusion from the World Cup.[1][2]
