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Super Cup: PSG vs Aston Villa, UEFA vs FIFA and the Somali ref barred from the World Cup

Barely three weeks after the World Cup final , the first trophy of the new European soccer season is up for grabs in the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston…

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The UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa is set to take place in Salzburg on Wednesday. This annual fixture between the Champions League and Europa League winners also provides an opportunity for UEFA to showcase its authority over FIFA, amid growing tensions between the two governing bodies. Refereeing the match will be Omar Artan, a Somali referee who was barred from officiating the World Cup due to vetting concerns, despite being regarded as Africa's best referee last season.

This decision by UEFA has been welcomed by the soccer community and seen as a strategic move by the European association. With PSG aiming to become the second team in the modern era to retain the Super Cup, it is expected to be as captivating as the players involved.

Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Also reported by 8 other outlets

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