Somali referee Omar Artan, who missed the opportunity to officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old official was selected by FIFA as part of the refereeing panel for the World Cup but was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport shortly before the tournament began in June.
Artan described the experience as a difficult period in his career, saying it was particularly challenging to miss an opportunity he had worked toward for years.
“It was a very tough period,” Artan said in an interview published on the UEFA website.
“A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging.”
A United States State Department official told AFP at the time that Artan was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations”, making him ineligible for admission to the country.
The allegations were rejected by the referee and sparked outrage in Somalia, where Artan was welcomed as a hero following his return.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also expressed disappointment over the incident, saying it was unfortunate that the Somali referee had been prevented from participating.
“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” Infantino said at the time, adding that FIFA did not control every aspect of entry into countries hosting its tournaments.
UEFA subsequently announced that Artan would officiate the Super Cup, giving him an opportunity to make his first appearance as a referee in European football.
The match will bring together Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.
Artan said he was proud of the opportunity after the setback surrounding his World Cup involvement.
“I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here, and I’m really proud,” he said.
“As you can imagine, I grew up in a difficult situation, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing my dreams.”
The appointment represents another milestone in Artan’s career. He became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 and will now take charge of his first match in Europe.
“Having adventures, making memories and learning new things is always great,” Artan said. “When we got this call, it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment.”
UEFA linked the appointment to its cooperation agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which was signed at the end of April and is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two football confederations.
However, the decision also carries wider significance given UEFA’s increasingly tense relationship with FIFA and its leadership under Infantino.
The European governing body has frequently taken positions critical of FIFA, while tensions have intensified over proposals involving private investment in the World Cup.
UEFA’s opposition was a major factor in the collapse of the plan and has continued to raise the possibility of boycotting FIFA tournaments, including future World Cups, as part of pressure on Infantino to step down.
For Artan, however, the UEFA Super Cup appointment provides an opportunity to move beyond the controversy surrounding his World Cup absence and establish himself on the European stage.
His appointment also represents a significant moment for Somali football and African refereeing, giving one of the continent’s emerging officials a prominent role in one of European football’s major fixtures.
