UEFA Appoints Somali referee After World Cup Snub

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced on Thursday the appointment of Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, just days after he was denied entry into the United States and ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan, who was initially poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.

UEFA stated that the decision followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under a recently signed cooperation agreement between the two bodies.

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Credit: The Guardian Nigeria.

Since 2018, the Somali referee has been on FIFA’s international referees list and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025. He was also the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised the Somali official, describing him as one of the leading young referees in world football.

“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.”

“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,” Čeferin said.

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