Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has made history as the first African and non-European referee to officiate the UEFA Super Cup.
The 34-year-old took charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday. Paris Saint-Germain won the encounter 2–1.
Artan’s appointment was particularly significant given that he had been selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was unable to participate after being denied entry into the United States.
US authorities cited immigration and security-vetting concerns when Artan was stopped at Miami International Airport in June.
FIFA subsequently confirmed that he would be unable to officiate at the tournament.
Meanwhile, Artan denied allegations of any links to terrorism.
UEFA, however, selected Artan for its prestigious season-opening fixture following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The appointment was made under a cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF with the aim of promoting collaboration, including in refereeing.
Artan has established himself as one of Africa’s leading referees.
He has been on the FIFA international referees list since 2018, officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations and the CAF Champions League, and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
