Somali official Omar Artan has been selected to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, weeks after being denied entry into the United States for the FIFA World Cup.
European football governing body UEFA announced the appointment on Thursday, with President Aleksander Ceferin commending Artan’s performances on the continental stage.
“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 the appointment followed consultations with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and forms part of ongoing cooperation between the two bodies.
Artan will officiate the UEFA Super Cup clash between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League holders Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.
His exclusion from the World Cup in the United States had drawn attention in the build-up to the tournament and was among several issues that overshadowed preparations for the competition.
