Somali referee Omar Artan has been given the opportunity to officiate at the highest level in Europe after being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup.
Artan will take charge of the Uefa Super Cup fixture between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled to take place on 12 August in Salzburg.
The match pits PSG, who won the Champions League last term, against Aston Villa, who claimed the Europa League title in the same season.
Uefa confirmed the appointment in a formal statement, adding that the decision followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin paid tribute to Artan directly, describing him as a proven official at the highest level of African football.
Ceferin said: “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.”
The Uefa president also stressed the broader significance of the gesture, saying: “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.”
Ceferin added: “I am grateful to my friend Caf president Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Artan, the 2025 Caf men’s referee of the year, has been on Fifa’s international list since 2018 and had been set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals.
His World Cup dream was shattered when border officials in Miami turned him away despite him holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.
A US government official stated on Wednesday that Artan had not been permitted to enter the country due to his “association with suspected members of terror organisations.”
Somalia is among several nations included on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump, which ultimately led to Artan’s exclusion from the tournament.
World governing body Fifa confirmed Artan would miss the World Cup after speaking with US authorities, bringing a swift and controversial end to his participation in the competition.
The Uefa Super Cup appointment now offers Artan a high-profile stage to demonstrate his abilities, with the eyes of European football firmly on Salzburg this August.
