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Who is Omar Artan? UEFA Super Cup ref who was refused entry to USA in World Cup chaos

Omar Artan will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa after being at the heart of a major controversy at this summer's World Cup

[Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan]

Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Who is UEFA Super Cup referee Omar Artan?

1. Omar Artan profile: Omar Abdulkadir Artan is a 34-year-old professional football referee from Somalia who has steadily built a strong reputation over the past few years. His profile rose significantly when he was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men's Referee of the Year, an award he received shortly after becoming the first Somali to oversee a CAF Champions League final.
2. Background: His consistent performance on the continent led to him being selected by FIFA as a match official for the 2026 World Cup, representing a major historic achievement for his nation. He was set to become the very first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup finals tournament, a milestone that brought immense pride to the Somali sporting community and resulted in a warm reception upon his recent return to Mogadishu.
3. World Cup chaos: The trajectory of his summer changed on June 6, 2026, when he arrived at Miami International Airport and was subsequently denied entry into the United States by Customs and Border Protection officials. While US immigration authorities did not issue a specific public reason for his repatriation, reports noted that Somalia is one of several countries currently on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
4. UEFA Super Cup: In the aftermath of his removal from the World Cup, UEFA stepped forward and officially appointed Artan to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa. The match will be hosted at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday, August 12, with proceedings expected to get underway at 8pm local time.
5. History-maker: By stepping onto the pitch in Salzburg, Artan will once again make history by becoming the very first non-European official to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup since the competition's inception 53 years ago. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin explained that this decision was a direct reflection of Artan's exceptional refereeing abilities and it also highlighted a recent memorandum of understanding signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in refereeing standards.
6. Since the World Cup: Despite the obvious disappointment of missing the World Cup, Artan has spoken publicly about his gratitude for the global support he received and has kept himself fully prepared for his upcoming European assignment. Over the past two months, he has maintained his match sharpness by taking charge of local league fixtures in Somalia, as well as officiating the Kuwaiti Premier League title decider at the end of June
7. Read more: Omar Artan given new refereeing role after controversial World Cup ban as UEFA step in.

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