‘This was my World Cup’ says Somali ref after Uefa Super Cup
The 34-year-old was denied the chance to referee at the World Cup itself after being refused entry to the US.
Somali referee Omar Artan found joy in officiating the Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa, describing it as his "World Cup." The 34-year-old was denied entry to the World Cup in the United States, despite being selected by FIFA for the tournament. On Thursday, UEFA shared a photo of Artan writing "This was my World Cup" on the match ball.
The US State Department had denied his entry due to allegations of him being associated with suspected terrorist organisations, a claim Artan denied. However, upon his return to Somalia, he was celebrated as a hero. Artan thanked UEFA, CAF, and his own confederation, CAF, for their support in a post on Instagram. UEFA justified their decision by citing an agreement signed with CAF to promote cooperation between the two confederations, a move seen as both a political gesture and a response to the ongoing conflict between UEFA and FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the abandoned plan to open up the World Cup to private investors.
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