UEFA surprises Somali referee Omar Artan after banning him from the World Cup

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

UEFA has announced the appointment of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering USTo participate in the World Cup, to officiate the European Super Cup match.

In a statement released on Thursday, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised the efforts of the Somali referee just hours before the start of the FIFA World Cup.

The Somali referee has extensive experience.

Ceferin said that Omar Artan is a young referee with a lot of experience, and has proven himself at the highest competitive level in the Confederation of African Football, explaining that football is designed to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect for Omar and his outstanding refereeing skills, which have earned him the prestigious nomination.

UEFA announced today that, following discussions with the African Football Confederation, Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match, to be held on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.

Global controversy over the Artan case

The Artan case was one of several that sparked global controversy and marred preparations for the FIFA World Cup.

UEFA said that Artan's appointment came as part of an agreement between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football to encourage cooperation.

The statement read: UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination.

African Football Confederation President Patrice Motsepe said that Artan made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud, explaining that his winning the CAF Men's Referee of the Year award for 2025 and his appointment as a referee at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a recognition of his world-class refereeing abilities and the international respect he enjoys.

Motsepe added that his appointment as a referee for the Super Cup is a great honor for Omar Artan and for African referees, and is an excellent example for football, as it brings together and unites people from Africa, Europe and the whole world.

Earlier, a US State Department official told AFP that the ruling was linked to suspected members of terrorist organizations, and therefore made the traveler ineligible to enter the United States.

FIFA has confirmed that it will no longer be part of the World Cup.

Artan's appointment to the list of 52 referees for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States was a source of great pride for the citizens of Somalia and the African continent.

The referee returned to Mogadishu on Wednesday to a rapturous welcome, and pledged to participate in the next World Cup in 2030.

The FIFA World Cup tournament begins today, Thursday, June 11.