Referee barred from entering USA appointed for Aston Villa's Super Cup clash v PSG
Official will take charge of August match after World Cup disappointment.
Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the European Super Cup clash between Villa and Paris Saint-Germain, Uefa has announced.
Artan has been at the centre of a huge storm this week after being denied entry to the USA, where he was due to referee at the World Cup.
The 34-year-old was stopped at the border at Miami international airport, despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.
US authorities later claimed Artan, who would have become the first Somali to ever referee at a World Cup, had been denied entry due to his "association with suspected members of terror organisations”.
But the decision has been widely condemned and led to criticism of world governing body Fifa, on the eve of the tournament.
Artan, who has since returned to Somalia, has now been confirmed as referee for the Super Cup, which takes place in Salzburg on August 12.
In a statement, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said it was the job of football to “connect people”.
He said: “UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football.”
Artan has been on Fifa’s international list since 2018 and was named the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) referee of the year in 2025.
His appointment for the Super Cup, which pits Europa League winners Villa against Champions League winners PSG, follows a recent deal signed between Uefa and CAF encouraging co-operation in areas including officiating.
CAF president, Dr Patrice Motsepe, said: “Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African Continent, extremely proud.
“His receipt of the CAF men’s referee of the year award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide.”