Somali referee Omar Artan has made history as the first non-European official to referee the UEFA Super Cup after being denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Switzerland | Sayer Zaland
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.
The appointment marks a historic moment for African football, with Artan becoming the first non-European referee to take charge of the prestigious European fixture.
Artan’s selection comes after he was denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite reportedly holding a valid visa and the necessary travel documents.
U.S. authorities reportedly refused him admission after he arrived at Miami International Airport and returned him to Turkey. A U.S. Department of State official told AFP that Artan was considered ineligible for admission because of alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organizations.
Artan has rejected the allegations.
The incident attracted international attention and criticism within the football community. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the situation as unfortunate but said FIFA does not control every decision made by national authorities.
UEFA’s decision to appoint Artan for the Super Cup has been viewed as a significant gesture of support, although UEFA officially linked the appointment to its growing cooperation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Paris Saint-Germain won the match 2–1 against Aston Villa, with Désiré Doué scoring the decisive late goal.
Omar Artan is one of Somalia’s leading international referees. In 2024, he became the first Somali official to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations.
His performances in African and continental competitions earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025.
Artan was subsequently selected as one of the officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His exclusion from the United States became a major issue ahead of the tournament.
UEFA’s decision to give him the Super Cup appointment has added another historic achievement to his career and highlighted the growing cooperation between European and African football authorities.