PARIS, France, June 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Somali referee Omar Artan, who was 
denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to 
officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin poured praise on the Somali referee in a 
statement released a few hours before global body FIFA's flagship World Cup 
was to start.

"Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has 
proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of 
African Football," said Ceferin.

"Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to 
Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a 
prestigious nomination."

UEFA said that after talks with the African confederation, it "has today 
appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup" on 
August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-
Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.

Artan's case has been on of many incidents to taint the runup to FIFA's World 
Cup.

UEFA said Artan's appointment came in the framework of an accord between UEFA 
and CAF to encourage cooperation.

- African pride -

"UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all 
levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-
discrimination," it said.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had "made Somalia and the entire 
people of the African continent, extremely proud".

"His receipt of the CAF men's referee of the year award 2025 and his 
appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his 
world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys."

His appointment to referee the Super Cup "is a great honour for Omar Artan 
and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, 
bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide", 
Motsepe said.

Artan was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami 
International Airport.

A US State Department official told AFP that the referee was "associated with 
suspected members of terrorist organizations", therefore "making the traveler 
ineligible for admission to the United States".

FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup.

Artan's appointment to the 52-strong roster of referees for the finals in 
Canada, Mexico and the United States had been a huge source of pride for his 
compatriots.

He returned to a hero's welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday and vowed to take 
part in the next World Cup in 2030.