Somali denied World Cup ‘proud’ to referee PSG vs Villa in UEFA Super Cup

What the report says

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan is set to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting. The appointment comes after Artan was denied entry to the United States earlier this year, which prevented him from taking part in matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite having been selected by FIFA for the tournament’s refereeing panel.

Artan, 34, said in remarks published by UEFA that the setback was a difficult period, but that he was proud to receive the Super Cup assignment. He described the call from UEFA as a very happy moment for him and his family. The report also notes that he had become the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 and is now preparing for his first match in Europe.

Al Jazeera, citing AFP and UEFA materials, said a US State Department official had linked the entry refusal to security concerns, an allegation Artan rejected. The decision drew criticism in Somalia and led to public comments from FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the time. UEFA’s choice to hand Artan the Super Cup appears to reflect both its cooperation with the African football confederation and a broader rivalry with FIFA. The assignment is notable because it places a referee who missed the World Cup on one of European football’s major annual stages.