Artan is a 34-year-old football referee from Somalia, the first African referee to officiate a major final in European football.

Why didn't Artan officiate at the 2026 World Cup?

US authorities did not allow him to enter the country despite a valid visa and diplomatic passport, citing security concerns.

Which match did Artan officiate instead of the World Cup?

He officiated the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, where PSG won 2-1.

What did Artan write on the ball?

He wrote: "Thank you UEFA. Really made my life better forever. This was my World Cup," thanking UEFA for changing his life for the better.

Football

Americans Detained Him and Barred Him from the World Cup

N.G. · Prije 6h | 3 min

Somali referee Artan, denied entry to the US, officiated the UEFA Super Cup and wrote an emotional thank-you message to UEFA on the match ball.

Summary

Somali referee Artan, denied entry to the US for the 2026 World Cup, officiated the UEFA Super Cup.
PSG beat Aston Villa 2-1, and Artan wrote a thank-you message to UEFA on the match ball after the game.
US authorities held him for 12 days in an immigration detention center before UEFA gave him this opportunity.
Artan is the first African and the first non-European referee to officiate the UEFA Super Cup.

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Somali football referee Artan experienced two completely opposite realities this summer. While US authorities refused him entry to the country for the 2026 World Cup, UEFA gave him an opportunity that, in his own words, changed his life forever. Last night, he officiated the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

The French club won 2-1 and lifted another trophy, while Artan was gifted the match ball after the game. He wrote a message of thanks to the European football governing body on it and shared a photo on social media.

A Message That Reveals How Much It Meant

On the ball, he left a short but powerful message in English: "Thank you UEFA. Really made my life better forever. This was my World Cup." In other words, he thanked UEFA for changing his life for the better, adding that this was his World Cup.

Klix.ba reports that Artan became the first African referee to officiate a major final in European football. According to Tportal Vijesti, in cooperation with the Confederation of African Football, UEFA appointed him as the main referee for the Super Cup, making the 34-year-old the first non-European referee in the competition's history.

Humiliation in the US and Detention in an Immigration Jail

The backdrop to this emotional story is more than unpleasant. FIFA had selected Artan among the referees for the 2026 World Cup, which would have made him the first Somali to officiate at the tournament. However, despite holding a valid visa and a diplomatic passport, he was not allowed to enter the US.

US authorities cited security concerns and possible associations with individuals linked to terrorist groups as reasons, forcing him to miss the competition. Klix.ba adds that, in addition to the visa denial, he was held in an immigration detention center for a full 12 days.

Quality That Needed No Proof

His selection for the Super Cup was not merely a symbolic gesture. Since 2018, Artan has been on FIFA's international referees list and has also officiated the CAF Champions League final; in 2025, he was named the best male referee in Africa.

For him, the match in Salzburg, after missing the World Cup, meant much more than just another high-profile assignment. His message written on the ball most clearly reflected the significance of the opportunity UEFA gave him.