Somali referee Artan to officiate UEFA Super Cup after US visa denial

Omar Artan will oversee the match between PSG and Aston Villa in Austria, five days after being barred from entering the United States for the World Cup.

Talivio News · Global 12 August 2026, 07:53 2 min read

Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. The assignment comes five days after Artan was denied entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6 with a valid visa but was refused entry by US Customs and Border Protection. The agency stated that Artan was deemed inadmissible due to 'vetting concerns' but did not provide further details regarding the decision.

FIFA confirmed that Artan would not be able to participate in the 2026 World Cup following the incident. He had been selected as a match official for the tournament and was set to become the first Somali referee to serve at the event.

UEFA appointment follows CAF discussions

UEFA appointed Artan to the Super Cup five days after the US incident, following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The 34-year-old will oversee the match at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, marking his first refereeing assignment in Europe.

Artan was originally set to become the first non-European referee to oversee the UEFA Super Cup. The match features UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against Europa League holders Aston Villa.

Artan said the appointment brought joy to his family and Somali communities across Europe. He noted that Somalis in Austria and elsewhere were 'over the moon' with him officiating such a high-profile match.

A career of firsts

Artan joined FIFA's international list of match officials in 2018. His recent achievements include becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 and the first Somali to oversee a CAF Champions League final.

In 2025, Artan was named CAF Men's Referee of the Year. Despite the recent setback in the US, he expressed gratitude for the international support he received during the period.

Artan described the visa denial as a challenging time, noting that many people sympathized with his situation after years of work led to an unexpected inability to perform his duties.

Updates

Update — 12 August, 16:31

Following the visa denial, U.S. authorities confirmed Artan was barred due to alleged links to persons suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations, a claim echoed by White House Task Force Chief Andrew Giuliani, who stated the U.S. will not allow 'shady characters' into the country during football events; meanwhile, former FIFA president Joseph Blatter called the decision 'unbelievable and absurd,' while UEFA President Čeferin praised Artan’s credentials, and FIFA’s Infantino called the situation 'unfortunate'—though joint statements from AFC, CONCACAF, and CAF accused Infantino of 'a profound failure in judgment,' and Artan himself expressed pride in representing Somalia, saying, 'I携带

Update — 13 August, 00:36

US authorities confirmed Omar Artan’s visa denial was due to alleged links to persons suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations, a justification echoed by White House official Andrew Giuliani, who stated the U.S. would not allow 'shady characters' into the country during football events—while FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the situation 'unfortunate' and former FIFA head Joseph Blatter labeled it 'unbelievable and absurd,' prompting a joint statement from European and continental confederations accusing Infantino of 'profound failure in judgment.'

Sources 1

Somali referee Artan to officiate UEFA Super Cup after US visa denial

UEFA appointment follows CAF discussions

A career of firsts

Updates

Sources 1

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