Amid World Cup Visa Rejection, Somali Referee Omar Artan To Officiate UEFA Super Cup Final
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup.
European football governing body, UEFA, announced the appointment on Thursday, hours before the start of the World Cup.
The Genius Media Nigeria understands that Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.
The appointment comes days after FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer be part of the World Cup following his inability to enter the United States.
UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, praised Artan, describing him as a young but experienced referee who had distinguished himself on the African continent.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” Ceferin said.
He added that UEFA’s decision to appoint the Somali official was also a message of respect for his ability and achievements as a referee.
“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination,” he said.
UEFA said the decision followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was made under an existing agreement between both bodies to encourage cooperation.
In its statement, UEFA said the appointment reflected the shared commitment of both UEFA and CAF to the growth of football and the promotion of fairness.
“UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination,” UEFA said.
The development has been viewed as a major boost for Artan, whose removal from the World Cup roster had generated disappointment in Somalia and across Africa.
Artan had been included in FIFA’s 52-man list of referees for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, a nomination that was celebrated by many of his compatriots.
CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, also welcomed the UEFA decision, saying Artan had brought pride to Somalia and the African continent.
Motsepe said, “His receipt of the CAF men’s referee of the year award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys.”
He described the Super Cup appointment as an honour not only for Artan but also for African referees.
His appointment to referee the Super Cup “is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide,” Motsepe said.
Artan was barred from entering the United States on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.
A United States State Department official told AFP that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations,” making him “ineligible for admission to the United States.”
Following the development, FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer officiate at the World Cup.
The incident was one of several controversies that affected preparations for the tournament.
Despite the setback, Artan returned to Somalia on Wednesday, where he was received by supporters in Mogadishu.
His World Cup appointment had earlier been seen as a major achievement for Somali football and a proud moment for the country.
Artan, however, said he remained focused on the future and vowed to work towards officiating at the next World Cup in 2030.
