English Premier League
Somali referee Omar Artan makes UEFA Super Cup history
Somali referee Omar Artan will become the first official from outside Europe to take charge of a UEFA Super Cup match when he referees the meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg.
The appointment marks a landmark moment for the 34-year-old, who will oversee his first match on European soil. It also gives Artan the chance to add another significant achievement to a year in which he was named the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) 2025 men’s referee of the year.
Artan’s selection carries particular importance because he was denied the opportunity to referee at the 2026 World Cup. His entry to the United States was refused after Somalia was included on the list of countries subject to an entry ban.
The UEFA Super Cup fixture between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will therefore represent a first in several respects for Artan. It will be his European debut as a match official and the first time a referee from outside Europe has been appointed to a game in the competition.
The appointment allows the Somali official to make history in a tournament traditionally associated with European football. His selection comes after a year of recognition from CAF and follows the disappointment of missing out on the chance to officiate at the 2026 World Cup.
Artan previously discussed the impact of that setback in an interview with UEFA. He said: “Many people expressed their sympathy to me, because when you work for many years to achieve a goal, and then you cannot achieve it in the end, it is very difficult. I greatly appreciate the support I received from all over the world. I am truly grateful.”
His words underline the personal significance of the UEFA Super Cup appointment. Having been unable to pursue a World Cup refereeing opportunity because he was not allowed to enter the United States, Artan will instead reach a historic milestone in Europe.
The match in Salzburg will be the first occasion on which he has officiated in the continent. It will also place his name in the history of the UEFA Super Cup as the first non-European referee to take charge of a fixture in the competition.
For Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the match will be contested under the direction of an official making his European debut. For Artan, it will be the latest step in a career that has already brought him CAF’s top men’s refereeing award and now offers him a unique place in the history of the UEFA Super Cup.