‘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 declared Wednesday's Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa as his 'World Cup' experience. The 34-year-old had been denied entry to the United States, despite being part of the FIFA-selected panel for the tournament. On Thursday, UEFA shared a photo of a match ball bearing Artan's inscription: 'This was my World Cup.'
UEFA had invited Artan to officiate the Super Cup after his denial, which sparked outrage in Somalia where he was celebrated as a hero upon his return. Artan thanked UEFA and CAF on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the trust and support. UEFA justified its decision by referencing the April agreement with CAF to promote cooperation between the two confederations, and viewed it as a political statement against FIFA's leadership.
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