UEFA Super Cup was my World Cup - Somali referee

Somali referee Omar Artan found a measure of redemption by officiating the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, an experience he described as his "World Cup." This came after he was denied entry to the United States for the FIFA World Cup.

UEFA invited Artan, 34, to officiate the Super Cup in Salzburg after the World Cup incident. He expressed his feelings by writing "This was my World Cup" on a match ball from the fixture, a sentiment shared by UEFA on social media. The Super Cup assignment represented a significant opportunity for Artan to officiate a high-profile international match.

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This was my World Cup.

Artan's exclusion from the World Cup stemmed from a US State Department official's statement that he was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations," rendering him ineligible for admission to the US. These allegations, which Artan has rejected, caused outrage in his home country of Somalia, where he was celebrated as a hero upon his return. Despite the World Cup disappointment, the UEFA Super Cup provided a prominent platform for his refereeing career.

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Thanks to everyone who made this possible.