UEFA has appointed Omar Artan, the Somali referee who was denied entry to the US to officiate at the World Cup, to take charge of next season’s Super Cup.
The European football body announced that Artan will handle the match between PSG, UEFA Champions League (UCL) winners, and Aston Villa, the Europa League champions, on 12 August in Salzburg.
UEFA said the decision was made after discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, said Artan’s “outstanding officiating skills” earned him the Super Cup duty.
“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, ” Ceferin said.
“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. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Artan was among the 52 referees selected for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
However, the Somali was barred from entering the US after arriving at Miami International Airport.
The US authorities claimed that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations”, therefore “making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States”.
FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup.
He was received with a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday and vowed to take part in the next World Cup in 2030.
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