UEFA announced Wednesday that Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup Final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena on August 12.
Artan, 34, has been FIFA-listed since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
The appointment comes after Artan was removed from the 2026 FIFA World Cup officiating roster. On June 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied him entry in Miami despite holding a valid visa, citing vetting concerns and alleged associations with suspected members of terror organizations.
FIFA said all World Cup officials must train at a central hub in Florida, making Artan ineligible to participate. He returned to Mogadishu on June 10.
UEFA said the decision was made under a memorandum of understanding with the Confederation of African Football to strengthen cooperation, including refereeing exchanges.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as “an excellent young but already experienced referee” who has proven himself at CAF’s highest level. CAF president Patrice Motsepe said Artan “has made Somalia and the entire people of the African Continent extremely proud.”