By
Arinze Izik

Somali referee Omar Artan is back in the spotlight. UEFA has appointed the 34-year-old to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12.

The appointment is a major statement. Artan made headlines days ago after U.S. Border and Customs Protection denied him entry in Miami for the 2026 World Cup base camp, citing “vetting concerns.” He was sent back to Somalia, sparking debate across football.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin defended Artan and turned the snub into an opportunity. “Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of CAF,” Ceferin said. “Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills.”

Ceferin thanked CAF President Patrice Motsepe for backing the move, which falls under a UEFA-CAF cooperation deal on refereeing. Artan will become the first African referee to lead a major UEFA final.

The World Cup door remains closed for now. ESPN reports it’s “impractical” to base him in Mexico or Canada since all FIFA training is centralized in Florida. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said FIFA “does not control everything” and told critics to “chill and relax.”

Artan’s credentials are solid. He was named 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year and handled the second leg of the 2024-25 CAF Champions League final. Motsepe called the Super Cup appointment “a victory for football’s ability to unite regions” and said Artan has made “Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud.”

Salzburg will now be Artan’s stage to show Europe what Africa already knows about his quality.