Somali referee Artan calls UEFA Super Cup his World Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan has described officiating the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa as his “World Cup” after being denied the opportunity to referee at the tournament itself. It will be recalled that the 34-year-old was among the referees selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup but was denied entry […]
Somali referee Omar Artan has hailed his role officiating the UEFA Super Cup as his "World Cup" experience, following his denial to participate in the actual World Cup. The 34-year-old was among the referees chosen by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, but was turned away from the United States at Miami International Airport due to concerns that he was linked to suspected terrorist organizations.
UEFA responded by inviting Artan to officiate the Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, marking him as the first African referee to lead a UEFA match. Artan described the Super Cup as the "World Cup" of his career, emphasizing the honor of taking charge of one of Europe's biggest stages. He expressed gratitude to UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their support, stating that UEFA trusted and gave him the opportunity to officiate this prestigious fixture.
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