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Referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States, is welcomed by supporters upon his arrival in Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2026
SOMALI referee Omar Artan will take charge of Aston Villa’s European Super Cup showdown with Paris St Germain after seeing his World Cup dream dashed, it was announced today.
Governing body Uefa has appointed the 34-year-old, who was refused entry to the United States earlier this week, to officiate in the game between the Europa League and Champions League winners in Salzburg on August 12.
A Uefa statement read: “Following discussions with its sister confederation, Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), Uefa has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 Uefa Super Cup.”
“Despite his young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world’s top referees and has been on the Fifa international list since 2018.”
Artan will now take centre state as PSG, who successfully defended their Champions League crown with a penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal in Budapest, attempt to win back-to-back Super Cups when they go head-to-head with Villa following their Europa League final triumph over Freiburg in Istanbul.
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