UEFA Appoints Omar Artan to Aug. 12 Super Cup After U.S. Barred World Cup Referee
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 11
UEFA Appoints Omar Artan to Aug. 12 Super Cup After U.S. Barred World Cup Referee
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 11
Summary
UEFA named 34-year-old Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the Aug. 12 Super Cup in Salzburg between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, making him the first African official to handle a major UEFA final.
The appointment follows Artan's denial of entry to the United States this week, when he arrived in Miami to join World Cup officials; U.S. border authorities cited unspecified "vetting concerns."
FIFA has not found a workaround because officials are expected to train and attend briefings in Miami, and sources said basing Artan in Canada or Mexico would be impractical.
UEFA said the move was made with CAF under a newly signed cooperation memorandum, while Aleksander Ceferin and Patrice Motsepe cast it as a statement of unity, equality and recognition of Artan's refereeing record.
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Overview
Omar Artan, a respected Somali referee on FIFA’s international list since 2018, was set to make history as the first Somali to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid US visa, he was denied entry by US border officials in Miami, with authorities citing alleged associations and Somalia’s inclusion on a travel ban list. FIFA confirmed his exclusion from the tournament. In response, UEFA made a symbolic gesture by appointing Artan to referee the UEFA Super Cup, highlighting both his professional merit and the broader debate over fairness and inclusion in global sport.