UEFA Hands Super Cup Final To Omar Artan Following World Cup Exclusion

UEFA Hands Super Cup Final To Omar Artan Following World Cup Exclusion

By Admin 

UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12, in a significant show of support following his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Artan, 34, was originally selected among the match officials for the World Cup but was subsequently removed from FIFA's referee roster after being denied entry to the United States by customs authorities at Miami International Airport.

The incident sparked controversy within the football community, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino drawing criticism after telling reporters to “chill” and “relax” when questioned about Artan’s situation during a press conference on Wednesday.

In response, UEFA moved to recognize the Somali official's credentials. Following consultations with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), European football’s governing body appointed Artan to oversee its traditional season-opening showpiece between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa Conference League.

Artan, who has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018, is regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. His reputation was further enhanced after being named CAF Referee of the Year in 2025.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised the official's achievements and experience, describing Artan as “an excellent young but already experienced referee” who has consistently demonstrated his quality at the highest levels of African football.

“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination,” Čeferin said.

The appointment is widely seen as a gesture of recognition for Artan’s accomplishments and a reaffirmation of UEFA’s confidence in his abilities following the disappointment of missing out on football’s biggest tournament.