Mihlali Baleka|Published47 minutes agoWatch VideoOmar Artan appointed to officiate Uefa Super Cup after World Cup visa heartbreak

After being controversially denied entry to the US for the World Cup, Somalia’s star referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate August’s blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. Read how UEFA and CAF stepped in. Photo: Backpagepix Somalian referee Omar Artanhas been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on August 12, UEFA announced on Thursday afternoon, following his recent withdrawal from the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

Artan was denied entry into the United States at the Miami Airport and, consequently, will not officiate at the World Cupdue to reported “safety concerns.” This incident drew sharp criticism toward Fifa for failing to intervene and ensure the 34-year-old – who was ranked as the best referee in African football in 2025 – could realise his childhood dream. Fifa received further criticism after President Gianni Infantinosaid the organisation decided to “chill” and “relax” over the matter instead of “screaming and shouting,” suggesting that such an approach could worsen the situation since visa concerns regarding entry and exit to the US are out of Fifa’s hands. To restore Artan’s pride and recognise his hard work, UEFA, alongside CAF, has stepped in.

The appointment is “in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’) recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing”. The Super Cup match, scheduled for August 12, will feature UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain clashing with UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg.