UEFA Appoints Omar Artan to Officiate 2026 Super Cup after FIFA Snubbed him

Omar Artan (Somali association football referee)

UEFA has officially appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. The announcement comes shortly after Artan was denied entry into the United States, a visa issue that ultimately ruled him out of officiating duties for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan was on track to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. Following his removal from the tournament, he has now been selected to oversee the prestigious Super Cup clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa. The match is scheduled to take place in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.

Strategic Partnership Behind the Appointment

In a statement released on Thursday, UEFA confirmed that Artan’s appointment was finalized following productive discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The decision highlights the ongoing implementation of a recently signed cooperation agreement designed to foster talent exchange between the two governing bodies.

Professional Profile: Omar Artan

International Status: Has maintained a position on the FIFA international referees list since 2018.

 Major Accolades: Named the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.

 Key Experience: Most recently took charge of the high-stakes second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin commended the appointment, praising the 34-year-old official as one of the most promising young referees currently operating in world football.

“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,” Čeferin 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.”

CAF President Patrice Motsepe also welcomed the decision, saying Artan had made Somalia and Africa proud through his achievements on the international stage.

“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud,” Motsepe said.

“This 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.”

Artan’s Super Cup appointment coincides with intense, ongoing debate regarding his sudden removal from the FIFA World Cup roster. Despite possessing a valid visa and official FIFA accreditation, the Somali official was denied entry into the United States upon his arrival at Miami International Airport.

According to statements later released by Artan, he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interrogation before being formally detained and placed on a return flight. Following the incident, FIFA confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in the tournament.

This situation adds to a growing list of administrative and diplomatic controversies overshadowing the event, which also include formal complaints from Iran regarding the revocation of fan ticket allocations, as well as broader visa-related disruptions affecting several participating nations.