Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate Super Cup in Salzburg
Artan becomes the first non-European official in the match, weeks after being denied entry to the U.S. for the World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 European Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday. UEFA handed him the assignment days after Artan failed to work at the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry to the United States at Miami airport despite holding a valid visa. The appointment makes Artan the first non-European referee to oversee the annual UEFA event. According to UEFA, the assignment also reflects a new cooperation with the Confederation of African Football. Artan, 34, said the period after the U.S. entry denial was very difficult. He will be assisted by two Africans, Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed of Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe of Kenya.