Somali referee banned by US to officiate European Super Cup UEFA
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced...
✨ Key Highlights
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, previously denied entry to the United States, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
- The match will take place on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
- UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan's skills, calling him an "excellent young but already experienced referee."
- Artan was barred from entering the US due to suspected association with members of terrorist organizations.
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FIFA President Infantino Calls Somali Referee Denial Unfortunate - June 2026
FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the case of Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry to the United States, "unfortunate." Artan, who had previously been denied entry to the United States, was subsequently appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. On the eve of the 2026 Men's World Cup, Infantino faced questions from the media addressing multiple off-field controversies including ticket prices and the barring of officials from the United States. The denial of the Somali referee has added to the pre-tournament scrutiny facing FIFA leadership.
