Somali referee gets UEFA Super Cup assignment after World Cup exclusion
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Agencies
- Posted On 11-08-2026, 03:07PM
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday, weeks after he was denied the chance to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old referee was selected by FIFA as part of its World Cup officiating panel but was turned away when he arrived at Miami International Airport before the tournament began, Al Jazeera reported.
The US Department of State told AFP that Artan was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations” and was therefore considered ineligible to enter the United States.
Artan rejected the allegations, while the decision triggered outrage in Somalia, where he was welcomed as a hero after returning home.
“It was a very tough period,” Artan said in an interview published on UEFA’s website.
“A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also expressed sympathy for the referee at the time, saying it was “unfortunate” and that FIFA did not control every aspect of the situation.
Artan’s career has now taken an unexpected turn.
UEFA selected him to referee Wednesday’s Super Cup clash between Champions League winners PSG and Europa League winners Aston Villa. The appointment will give Artan his first opportunity to officiate a match in Europe.
“I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here, and I’m really proud,” Artan told UEFA.
“As you can imagine, I grew up in a difficult situation, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing my dreams.”
Artan became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024. His appointment for one of European football’s biggest annual matches represents another major milestone in his career.
“When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment,” he said.
UEFA pointed to its cooperation agreement with the Confederation of African Football, signed in April, as part of the reasoning behind Artan’s appointment.
The decision also carries a wider political significance amid growing tensions between UEFA and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
UEFA has been leading opposition to a proposal to open the World Cup to private investors, with European football authorities also threatening to boycott FIFA competitions in an effort to pressure Infantino to step down.
For Artan, however, the focus is on the opportunity in front of him.
After losing his chance to referee at the World Cup because he could not enter the United States, he will instead walk onto the field in Europe for a high-profile match between PSG and Aston Villa.
“Having adventures, making memories and learning new things is always great,” Artan said.
