Somali referee Omar Artan will become the first non-European official in UEFA Super Cup history. The appointment comes just two months after US authorities denied him a visa and prevented him from officiating at the World Cup.
This Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg will make history beyond the final score. The match will be officiated by 34-year-old Somali referee Omar Artan, who will thus become the first referee from outside Europe entrusted with this prestigious duty.
This decision by European football's governing body is a direct response to events in early June, when US authorities barred Artan from entering the country, thereby preventing him from officiating at the 2026 World Cup.
In early June, Artan traveled to Miami to join the refereeing team for the World Cup. However, instead of stepping onto the pitch, he ended up in an interrogation room. In an interview with the New York Times, he revealed that he underwent an 11-hour interrogation during which officials questioned him about the situation in Somalia and his alleged ties to the Islamist group al-Shabab.
The referee showed them official FIFA documentation and photos from matches he had officiated, but to no avail. After the interrogation, he was placed in detention and then put on a flight to Istanbul and deported from the United States. Thus, his chance to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup was dashed.
Shortly after the incident, UEFA, in agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), decided to entrust Artan with officiating the Super Cup. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin explained that it was a recognition of refereeing quality, but also a symbolic gesture.
"Omar Artan is an excellent and young, but already experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest level of CAF competitions. Football brings people together, and with this, UEFA wants to show respect for Omar and his exceptional refereeing skills," Čeferin said.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Čeferin also thanked CAF President Patrice Motsepe for his enthusiastic support of the initiative. Artan has been on FIFA's international referees list since 2018, and in 2025 he was named CAF's Best Male Referee.
Artan himself did not hide his excitement after receiving the call from UEFA. The news of his appointment came in early June, shortly after his return from the US.
"When we received the call, it was an extremely happy moment for me and my family," Artan said.
The referee also noted that there is a large Somali community in Europe, especially in Austria, which is eagerly awaiting the match. "They are thrilled that I will officiate such a match," he added.
The match between Champions League winners PSG and Europa League winners Aston Villa is scheduled for this Wednesday in Salzburg.
