Omar Artan makes history as first non-European UEFA Super Cup referee

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has made history as the first non-European official to referee a UEFA Super Cup. He officiated the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg.

Artan’s appointment follows a controversial incident where he was denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Upon arrival at Miami International Airport, Artan was reportedly detained for 11 hours and subsequently deported. US authorities cited “verification issues” and alleged links to suspected terrorist organizations as the basis for the denial. Artan has rejected these allegations.

While FIFA did not intervene to facilitate his entry, UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) supported his appointment to the Super Cup. Artan, who was named the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year, described the assignment as his “World Cup” following the setback in the United States.