Somali Referee Omar Artan to Officiate UEFA Super Cup After US World Cup Denial

Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday. The 34 year old appointment comes after he was denied entry into the United States in June, which prevented him from refereeing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite being selected by FIFA for the tournament and possessing a valid visa and diplomatic passport, Artan was turned away at Miami International Airport after approximately 11 hours of questioning. A US Department of State official stated that Artan had links to individuals suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations, an allegation that Artan firmly denies. Following the incident, Artan was received as a hero upon his return to Somalia. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the situation as unfortunate but noted that the organization does not control everything. UEFA justified the appointment of Artan by citing a cooperation protocol signed in April with the Confederation of African Football. Artan, who was the first Somali to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, will be the first non European referee to charge the Super Cup. Sources with center and center left leans frame the appointment as a political gesture by UEFA. These reports suggest the move is a critique of FIFA and President Infantino, following a conflict over a failed plan to open the World Cup to private investors and a subsequent UEFA led boycott threat.