Somali Referee Omar Artan to Officiate European Super Cup After US Entry Denial

Somali referee Omar Artan will make history on Wednesday as the first non European to officiate the European Super Cup final between Paris Saint Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria. The appointment by UEFA follows a significant setback in June when Artan was denied entry into the United States, preventing him from refereeing at the 2026 World Cup.

Artan, 34, was one of seven African referees selected by FIFA for the tournament. According to CNN, he was interviewed for 11 hours at Miami International Airport before being deported. A US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson cited vetting concerns, and a Trump administration official later told CNN that the vetting uncovered derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations. No further details on these allegations were provided. Artan stated in an interview with The New York Times that he had been granted a visa prior to his arrival.

Artan has achieved several milestones in his career. He was the first Somali to participate in an Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, the first to referee a Confederation of African Football Champions League final in 2025, and the first to be named CAF Men's Referee of the Year in 2025. Following his return to Mogadishu, he continued to officiate in Somalia and the Kuwaiti Premier League. He will be assisted in the Super Cup match by East African officials, including Djibouti's Liban Ahmed.