Mogadishu (Sports Desk) Football referee Omar Artaan from Somalia has been appointed by the European football governing body as the match official for the UEFA Super Cup 2026. The official announcement was made on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Omar Artaan was scheduled to perform refereeing duties in this year’s World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, however he was stopped from entering the United States and was sent back after arriving at Miami International Airport, after which he withdrew from the World Cup referees panel.
Later, he returned to Somalia from Istanbul, Turkey, where he was given a grand welcome and was praised as a national hero.
Now the European football governing body has given him a major opportunity by assigning him responsibilities for the Super Cup match, which will be played between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa. This match will be held on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria.
According to the European football governing body, Omar Artaan is considered among the best referees in the world, and the reason for his absence from the World Cup was stated to be the denial of entry permission to the United States.