UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, just days after he was denied entry into the United States and subsequently removed from the FIFA World Cup officiating team.
The announcement was made on Thursday by European football’s governing body, which confirmed that Artan will oversee the August 12 Super Cup clash in Salzburg, Austria, between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa.
In a statement, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised the Somali official, describing him as one of Africa’s most accomplished referees.
“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,” 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.”
UEFA explained that the appointment followed consultations with the Confederation of African Football and formed part of an existing cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening ties between the two continental football bodies.
According to UEFA, “has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup” under the framework of its partnership with CAF.
The governing body added that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing football and promoting inclusion across continents.
“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.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe also hailed the appointment, describing it as a proud moment for Somalia and the African continent.
“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 and the international respect that he enjoys.”
Motsepe further stated that Artan’s selection for the Super Cup would serve as a symbol of football’s ability to unite people across regions.
“is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide”, Motsepe said.
Artan’s latest appointment comes amid controversy surrounding his exclusion from the FIFA World Cup. The referee was denied entry into the United States after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday.
A US State Department official told AFP that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations”, therefore “making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States”.
Following the development, FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer participate in the World Cup tournament being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
His inclusion among the 52 referees initially selected for the global showpiece had been widely celebrated in Somalia, where many viewed it as a landmark achievement for the country’s football community.
Despite the setback, Artan received a warm reception upon his return to Mogadishu on Wednesday and expressed optimism about officiating at the next World Cup in 2030.
AFP.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
