In a remarkable act of solidarity, European football’s governing body UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, just days after the United States government barred him from entering the country to take part in the FIFA World Cup.
The decision, announced on Thursday, has been widely praised as a powerful statement against discrimination and in favour of football’s unifying values.
Artan, 34, had been selected by FIFA as one of the 52 match officials for the 2026 World Cup— a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. His appointment was a milestone not only for Somalia but for African football as a whole.
However, on Saturday, the referee arrived at Miami International Airport and was promptly denied entry by US authorities. A spokesperson for the US State Department cited concerns that Artan was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations,” rendering him ineligible for admission. FIFA subsequently confirmed his removal from the World Cup roster. This was truly outbreaking for the top African referee.
The incident triggered widespread outrage across the football world and beyond, with many viewing the decision as discriminatory and politically motivated. Artan returned home to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday, greeted by crowds celebrating the achievement he had already made simply by earning the prestigious nomination. He pledged to participate in the 2030 World Cup, vowing not to let the setback define his career.
UEFA moved swiftly. Following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the European governing body announced the appointment of the Somali referee to officiate the UEFA Super Cup on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
The match will be contested between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa — one of the most prestigious club fixtures in the European football calendar.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin was effusive in his support. “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,” he said in a statement. He added that football exists to connect people and that UEFA wanted to honour both Artan’s officiating ability and the recognition he had already earned through his FIFA World Cup nomination.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe echoed those sentiments, saying Artan had made Somalia and the entire African continent proud.
He highlighted that the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award for 2025, which Artan received, together with his World Cup appointment, reflected his world-class ability and the international respect he commands. Motsepe praised Čeferin for making the UEFA Super Cup appointment possible, describing it as an outstanding example of football uniting people across continents.
The appointment was made under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between UEFA and CAF, aimed at encouraging cooperation across several areas of football development, including refereeing. The two confederations stated that they are “united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination.”
Artan has been on the FIFA international referee list since 2018. Among the notable matches he has officiated is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.
His journey from Mogadishu to the world stage has been a source of national pride, and his appointment to officiate the UEFA Super Cup ensures that a controversy that threatened to overshadow a career of genuine achievement has instead become a platform for an even greater moment.
The referee will now take centre stage in Salzburg as European football’s elite clubs renew their rivalry. This promises to be a fitting stage for one of Africa’s finest officials.
