Overview
- UEFA announced that Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the Super Cup between Paris Saint‑Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, making him the first non‑European to officiate the match.
- Artan was denied entry to the United States on June 6, which forced FIFA to remove him from the 2026 World Cup after U.S. officials cited vetting concerns and alleged links to suspected terror affiliates.
- Artan has rejected those allegations, described the period after the U.S. refusal as “a very tough period,” and said he is grateful for the international support he received.
- UEFA tied the appointment to a memorandum of understanding with the Confederation of African Football that aims to deepen cooperation on refereeing and exchanges between the confederations.
- The decision has been hailed in African football as recognition of Artan’s merits—he joined FIFA’s international list in 2018, refereed at AFCON 2024, oversaw a CAF Champions League final and won CAF Referee of the Year in 2025—and it has also been read by some commentators as a political signal toward FIFA and U.S. actions.