# Somali referee Artan to make history at UEFA Super Cup

2026-08-11T02:11:28+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Somali referee Omar Artan will become the first non-European to officiate the UEFA Super Cup when Paris Saint-Germain face Aston Villa in Salzburg on Wednesday. The 34-year-old, named CAF Men's Referee of the Year in 2025, was chosen for the match under a UEFA-CAF cooperation agreement signed this year. Artan was selected for the 2026 World Cup but was denied entry to the United States in June despite holding a valid visa. U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited "vetting concerns", while an administration official told Sportstar that Artan had links to "suspected members of terror organizations", a claim the referee has not addressed. He called the period "very tough" but urged officials to "never stop dreaming".

## Coverage

- sportstar.thehindu.com <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/omar-artan-somali-referee-uefa-super-cup-psg-vs-aston-villa-history-inspiration-african-countries/article71329027.ece>
- sportstar.thehindu.com <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/who-is-omar-artan-referee-for-uefa-super-cup-2026-final-what-happened-why-psg-aston-villa/article71335290.ece>

Tags: CAF, Immigration, Somali referee, UEFA Super Cup, US visa denial, World Cup
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