Somali referee Omar Artan made history as the first non-European official to referee the UEFA Super Cup, months after being denied entry to the United States and missing the 2026 World Cup.
SALZBURG (Somali Report) — Somali referee Omar Artan officiated Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, marking another milestone in his career after being denied entry to the United States and ruled out of the 2026 World Cup.
Artan, 34, became the first referee from outside Europe to officiate a UEFA Super Cup match. The game, played in Salzburg, Austria, ended with Paris Saint-Germain beating Aston Villa 2-1 to claim the European season-opening trophy.
The appointment was a significant achievement for Artan, who had been selected by FIFA as one of seven African referees for the 2026 World Cup before being denied entry to the United States in June.
Artan was stopped after arriving at Miami International Airport and was questioned for about 11 hours before being deported. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said at the time that his entry was denied because of “vetting concerns.”
FIFA later said immigration decisions were the responsibility of host countries.
Speaking in an interview published by UEFA, Artan described the experience as a difficult period in his career.
“It was a very tough period,” Artan said. “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 is very challenging.”
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Despite the setback, Artan has continued to break new ground in African football.
He became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and the first to take charge of a CAF Champions League final in 2025. He was also named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, one of the highest individual honours available to an African referee.
His selection for the World Cup would have made him the first Somali official to referee at the tournament.
Instead, his UEFA Super Cup appointment gave him another opportunity to make history on the international stage.
Artan’s appearance in Salzburg came as Paris Saint-Germain secured another major European honour, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 to add the UEFA Super Cup to its growing list of continental achievements.
For Artan, the night represented more than another major assignment. It offered a remarkable response to a major career setback and placed a Somali referee in the history of one of European football’s most prestigious annual fixtures.
About the Author
Fatuma Taxadar Yusuf is the Editor-in-Chief of Somali Report. She was the first woman to serve as an editor and media managing director in Somalia’s Puntland State. Previously, she worked with the BBC World Service and other leading media organizations in Somalia. She also serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Somalia Media Council, an independent body that regulates media standards and professional conduct in Somalia.
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