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Aston Villa is set to clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg on August 12, following their Europa League triumph. The match will be officiated by Omar Artan, a prominent referee from Africa. Artan’s appointment comes after a controversial incident where he was denied entry into the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to alleged derogatory information.
Omar Artan said: “I had the right papers and the right visa.”
The Trump administration countered: “Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organisations.”
The decision to deny Artan entry to the United States sparked widespread outrage in the football community, leading to significant support for the referee. UEFA has demonstrated its confidence in Artan by appointing him to officiate one of the most prestigious fixtures at the start of the next season. This decision underscores UEFA’s respect for Artan’s officiating skills, which have earned him recognition as one of the world’s top referees.
UEFA stated: “Despite his young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world’s top referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018. Among the most notable matches he has officiated is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.”
UEFA added: “The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match has been made in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing.”
Artan, who received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award in 2025, had been included in FIFA’s list of match officials for the World Cup 2026 but was unable to participate due to the US entry denial. His appointment to the UEFA Super Cup is part of a broader initiative to foster cooperation between UEFA and CAF, highlighting the importance of football as a unifying force.
UEFA concluded: “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. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Artan’s journey as a referee has been marked by significant achievements, including officiating two Africa Cup of Nations fixtures. His recognition as Africa’s top official and his poised entry as Somalia’s first-ever World Cup representative underscore his contributions to the sport. Despite the setback in the United States, Artan’s career continues to flourish on the international stage.
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