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UEFA solution: Somali referee Omar Artan appointed for European Super Cup
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

UEFA solution: Somali referee Omar Artan appointed for European Super Cup

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 European Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg.
  • Artan, named Africa's top referee for 2025, faces this significant appointment shortly after being denied a visa to officiate at the 2026 World Cup by U.S. authorities.
  • The U.S. cited "negative information" and alleged links to terrorist organizations, despite Artan possessing necessary documentation and undergoing an 11-hour interrogation.

Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, a significant appointment that comes after a challenging period for the official. UEFA announced that Artan will take charge of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled to be held in Salzburg.

This appointment marks a notable recognition for Artan, who was recently named the top African referee for 2025. However, the decision follows his exclusion from the 2026 World Cup after U.S. authorities denied him an entry visa. Artan reported being interrogated for 11 hours by U.S. officials, who stated that "negative information" and alleged connections to terrorist organizations emerged during their checks, despite him having all the required documents.

Following the visa incident, Artan returned to Somalia, where he was reportedly welcomed enthusiastically by his compatriots. The UEFA Super Cup appointment serves as a strong endorsement and a symbolic moment for the referee, highlighting his resilience and continued standing in international football.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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