Somali referee Omar Artan, excluded from the World Cup by the United States, chosen for the UEFA Super Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan, barred from officiating at the 2026 World Cup by US authorities, was appointed on Thursday to referee the UEFA Super Cup marquee match, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. The match will pit Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League winners, against Aston Villa, the Europa League winners.
In a statement, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stressed that "football's purpose is to bring people together" and that this decision was a tribute to Omar Artan's "exceptional skills" .
Triumphant return to Somalia
Artan, 34, was given a hero's welcome upon his return to Somalia on Wednesday, just days after being deported from the United States. Although he had been selected by FIFA to referee the World Cup, he was detained and interrogated for 11 hours in Miami before being sent back to Turkey. US authorities accused him, without evidence, of having ties to terrorist organizations.
This incident reignited criticism of US immigration policy, which had already been denounced the previous day by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged his powerlessness in the face of this situation, stating: "We are not the kings of the world. We cannot impose our authority on governments or police forces."
International recognition
Yet, Omar Artan is one of the most respected referees in the world. Voted African referee of the year last season, he notably officiated the Champions League final in May 2026. His appointment for the UEFA Super Cup is the result of a collaboration between UEFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its president, Patrice Motsepe (who is also a FIFA vice-president).
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud ,” Motsepe said in the statement. “This is a tremendous honor for him, for African referees, and a wonderful demonstration of football’s ability to unite people, from Africa to Europe and beyond.”
This announcement came just hours before South Africa, Motsepe's home country, faced Mexico (co-host of the World Cup) in the opening match of the tournament, at the legendary Azteca stadium in Mexico City.
