UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, marking another historic moment in his rapidly rising refereeing career.
The prestigious fixture is scheduled for August 12 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, where Artan will become one of the youngest officials to oversee a major UEFA final.
The appointment comes after Artan was denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited vetting concerns as the reason for the decision, while a Trump administration official linked the concerns to alleged terror associations — claims Artan has rejected.
Despite the controversy, UEFA has moved forward with recognising Artan’s achievements and ability on the pitch. The 34-year-old has built a strong reputation as one of Africa’s top referees, earning the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025.
Artan also made history as the first Somali referee to officiate a major continental final, further establishing himself as a symbol of progress and representation in international football.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan’s qualities and highlighted his professionalism, with the appointment coming during a period of closer cooperation between UEFA and CAF through a memorandum focused on unity, development, and equality in football.
The PSG versus Aston Villa Super Cup clash will now provide Artan with one of the biggest stages of his career as he continues to break barriers and represent a new generation of refereeing talent.
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