Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan set to make history in UEFA Super Cup

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan is set to make history in European football on Wednesday when he takes charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.

The match, scheduled for 10 p.m., will see Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain face Europa League holders Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena.

Artan, 34, will become the first non-European referee to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, marking a historic achievement for Somalia and African football.

A FIFA-listed international referee since 2018, Artan was named Africa's best referee in 2025 and has established himself among the continent's leading match officials.

Somalia Football Federation president and CECAFA vice-president Ali Abdi Mohamed described the appointment of Artan and his two assistants, who come from East and Central Africa, as a major achievement for African football.

Somali and African football fans will be closely watching the match in Salzburg as Artan takes centre stage in one of Europe's most prestigious fixtures, carrying Somalia's name into a new chapter of football history.

GAROWE ONLINE