Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12. The appointment is a great achievement for the 34-year-old referee, who was recently the centre of attention after being denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALSO READ:Somalian referee Omar Artan to officiate Rwanda v Benin AFCON Qualifier Reports indicated that US officials instructed him to return to his home country upon arrival at the airport, a move that drew widespread criticism. Artan has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2018 and has steadily built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading officials. One of the standout moments of his career came during the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. His displays during the season earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025. The UEFA Super Cup is traditionally contested by the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
