Somali referee Omar Artan is set to write a new chapter in the history of European football after being selected to referee the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa next Wednesday.
The 34-year-old will become the first referee from outside Europe to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup.
The good news follows one of the most difficult moments of his career after being barred from entering the US to officiate at the 2026 World Cup.
Omar Artan ‘honoured’ by appointment
Artan was selected by FIFA to referee at the 2026 World Cup but then was denied entry into the US due to restrictions on Somali nationals entering US territory.
He described that period as “very tough”, noting how hard it was to lose the opportunity to take part in the tournament after many years of hard work and professional development.
In an interview published by UEFA, Artan said:
It was a very tough period. 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’s very challenging. I really appreciate the support I received throughout the world, though; I’m so grateful.
Despite the shock, UEFA’s decision last June to appoint him to referee the UEFA Super Cup means he will be in charge of one of the most high-profile matches of the European season.
It is also extra special given the large Somali community in Europe and Austria, he emphasised.
Artan’s first European match
Artan makes no secret of the significance of the task ahead of him, as the European Super Cup will be the first match he has officiated in Europe – an experience he regards as an opportunity to learn and exchange expertise between the African and European football associations.
Expressing his pride in the cooperation between the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and UEFA, he said:
This will be my first match in Europe. Embarking on new adventures, making memories and learning new things is always wonderful.
He added that the standard of refereeing in Europe is “excellent”, emphasising that African referees are capable of learning from the European experience, just as European referees can benefit from African expertise. He described cooperation between the two sides as “a mutually beneficial exchange”.
I’m honoured to be appointed for this huge match. I want to say a big thank you to UEFA, as well as to the CAF president and everybody at CAF.
A career forged by adversity
Artan did not reach this point easily. He grew up in difficult circumstances but held on to his dream and kept working until he became one of the most prominent referees on the African continent.
In 2025, he became the first Somali referee to officiate the CAF Champions League final, which pitted Egypt’s Pyramids against South Africa’s Sundowns, before going on to win the African Referee of the Year award that same year.
Now, Artan finds himself with a new opportunity to make history – not in Africa this time, but on the European football stage – when he blows the whistle to kick off the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at the Salzburg Stadium in Austria.
Featured image via Feisal Omar/ Reuters
By Alaa Shamali
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