Somali referee Omar Artan officiates Uefa Super Cup after US visa denial

Omar Artan, denied entry to the US for the World Cup, will referee the Uefa Super Cup in August 2026.

Referee appointment confirmed Somali match official Omar Artan, who was prevented from entering the United States to officiate at the World Cup finals, has been selected to take charge of the Uefa Super Cup clash between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa. The match is scheduled to take place in Salzburg on 12 August. European football’s governing body confirmed the decision following consultations with the Confederation of African Football. The fixture will see PSG, last season’s Champions League winners, face Europa League champions Aston Villa. ## Uefa praises referee’s skills Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin described Artan as a highly skilled young referee who has already established himself at the top level of African competition. Ceferin stated that football exists to unite people and highlighted Uefa’s respect for Artan’s officiating expertise, which earned him the prestigious assignment. He thanked CAF president Patrice Motsepe for his strong support of the initiative. The statement emphasized Uefa’s commitment to recognizing excellence on the field. ## World Cup hopes dashed by entry ban Artan, who received the 2025 CAF men’s referee of the year award, had been listed by Fifa as an international official since 2018. He was poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, but border authorities in Miami denied him entry despite his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa. A US government representative later explained that Artan was barred due to alleged ties to persons suspected of terrorism. Somalia is included on a travel restriction list introduced under former President Donald Trump’s policies. ## Fifa acknowledges missed opportunity After discussions with American authorities, world governing body Fifa confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in the tournament. The decision followed the visa denial and the country’s inclusion on the restricted travel list. Fifa noted that Artan possessed the correct documentation but was still prevented from entering the US. The incident raised questions about the feasibility of hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America for officials from affected nations. ## Related coverage on referee case The article also references two additional stories: one about the barred referee asserting he had proper documents and visa, and another examining whether the incident indicates Fifa has lost oversight of its own World Cup preparations. These pieces provide context on the broader implications of the decision for football’s governing bodies and the challenges faced by officials under current travel restrictions.