Somali Referee Denied US World Cup Entry to Officiate UEFA Super Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan, denied entry to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Trump-era immigration policies, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12. The appointment follows a UEFA-CAF Memorandum of Understanding promoting refereeing cooperation. Artan, 2025 CAF Referee of the Year, was praised by both UEFA and CAF presidents for his skills and for symbolizing football’s unifying power.
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Barred Somali referee to receive full World Cup pay
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali referee who was barred from entering the United States to officiate World Cup matches, will receive full pay for the tournament from FIFA. Artan arrived in Miami on June 6 from Istanbul but was denied entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection due to vetting concerns. The 34-year-old was named 2025 Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football and had officiated in two African Cup of Nations and the 2025 CAF Champions League final. Following his denial, UEFA selected him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
Yardbarker: SoccerBanned from US, Somali Referee Omar Artan to Receive Full World Cup Bonus from FIFA
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but denied entry to the United States in Miami, will still receive the full bonus planned for tournament officials, according to BBC reports. FIFA's decision is seen as a strong show of support for the 34-year-old, who was named 2025 CAF Male Referee of the Year. Artan had officiated the African Champions League final, U20 World Cup matches, and Africa Cup of Nations games. As compensation for missing the World Cup, he has been invited to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12. Artan has publicly thanked Somalia for its welcome and has vowed to be present at the 2030 World Cup.
Home Football - actualitésFIFA Pays Full Compensation to Somali Referee Denied US Entry for World Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan (34) was denied entry to the United States by US authorities before the 2026 World Cup, despite holding a valid visa, due to alleged connections to a terrorist organization in Somalia. Although he cannot participate in the tournament, FIFA confirmed it will pay him the full compensation of a World Cup referee, reportedly between 50,000 and 100,000 euros. In a show of support, UEFA appointed Artan to officiate the Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan as an excellent and experienced referee, emphasizing football's role in connecting people. The exact amount Artan will receive from FIFA remains undisclosed.
BILD - SportFIFA to Pay Full Salary to Somali Referee Omar Artan After US Border Denial
Somali referee Omar Artan, holder of a diplomatic passport and valid visa, was detained and questioned for 11 hours by U.S. immigration services before being turned away at the border during the 2026 World Cup. He has since returned to Somalia, where he was welcomed as a hero. Despite not officiating in the tournament, FIFA has announced it will pay Artan his full World Cup remuneration. Additionally, UEFA has appointed Artan as the referee for the European Super Cup final between PSG and Aston Villa, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg. Artan was named the best African referee of 2025.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertSomali Referee Banned from US for World Cup to Officiate UEFA Super Cup Final
Somali referee Omar Artan (34), originally nominated for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, has been denied entry to the USA by the State Department, which cited alleged connections to suspected members of terrorist organizations. As a result, Artan will not officiate at the World Cup. However, UEFA has appointed him to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Champions League winner Paris St. Germain and Europa League winner Aston Villa, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin defended the decision, calling Artan an excellent and experienced referee, and framed the appointment as a signal of unity and non-discrimination under a recent UEFA-CAF cooperation agreement. White House World Cup official Andrew Giuliani defended the entry ban, stating it applies only to certain officials for good reason, not players or coaches.
BILD - SportUEFA Appoints Omar Artan to Referee 2026 Super Cup After World Cup Deportation
UEFA has appointed referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria. This decision follows Artan's denial of entry into the United States for the World Cup due to his alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organizations. Artan, who would have become Somalia's first referee at a World Cup, was deported. The Super Cup assignment marks a significant return to high-profile officiating for Artan amid the controversy.
Football News - Latest Football News, Fixtures and Results | The SunUEFA Confirms Omar Artan Will Referee 2026 Super Cup Final After World Cup Visa Rejection
UEFA has officially announced that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled to take place in Salzburg, Austria. The announcement was made via UEFA's official X account on June 11, 2026. This appointment comes after Artan was previously denied a visa to officiate at the World Cup, making his selection for the high-profile European club match a notable development in his career. The match features French champions PSG against English side Aston Villa.
Yardbarker: SoccerSomali referee Omar Artan to officiate UEFA Super Cup after being denied World Cup entry to US
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to alleged associations with terror organizations, has been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August in Salzburg. Artan, the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year, was turned away at Miami despite holding a diplomatic passport and valid US visa. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan's skills and said the decision was made in coordination with CAF. BBC analysis suggests UEFA may be using the opportunity to score political points against FIFA, noting the timing is unlikely coincidental.
BBC SportSomali Referee Omar Artan to Officiate UEFA Super Cup After World Cup Denial
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup due to alleged associations with suspected terror organizations, has been appointed to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan as an excellent young referee who has proven himself at the highest level of African football. Artan, the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year, was turned away by US border officials in Miami despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry visa. The decision to appoint him was made after discussions with the Confederation of African Football, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe supporting the initiative.
BBC SportUEFA Appoints Referee Barred from Entering US for European Super Cup
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to officiate the European Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. Artan was recently denied entry to the United States, preventing him from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the US co-hosts with Canada and Mexico. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stated the decision demonstrates respect for Artan's refereeing skills and football's unifying purpose. The appointment is part of a new cooperation agreement between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Somali government called the US entry ban 'regrettable,' and the UN human rights chief urged a review of US immigration policy ahead of the World Cup.
RecordSomali Referee Vetoed by US to Officiate UEFA Super Cup Final
UEFA has officially appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg. The match will feature Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the Champions League, against Aston Villa, champions of the Europa League. Artan, who was previously expelled from the World Cup by the United States, is recognized as one of the world's top referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018. He notably officiated the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final second leg and received the African Men's Referee of the Year award in 2025. The appointment is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and CAF aimed at fostering cooperation in refereeing and promoting unity, equality, and non-discrimination in football.
FútbolOmar Artan Appointed Referee for European Super Cup After US World Cup Ban
UEFA has officially appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the European Super Cup match between PSG and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. This decision comes shortly after the United States denied Artan entry to its territory, citing alleged ties to terrorist organizations, despite his prior appointment to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. The appointment is seen as a direct snub to FIFA and the US World Cup organizers, and is framed within the context of a Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and the African Football Confederation. Analysts interpret the move as another episode in the ongoing feud between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuUEFA Super Cup: Somali Referee Omar Artan Appointed for PSG vs Aston Villa
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was recently turned away at the US border after being selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, has been appointed by UEFA to referee the 2026 European Super Cup. The match will pit Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the Champions League, against Aston Villa, winners of the Europa League. The game is scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. Artan, 34, was named CAF Best Referee in 2025 and received a standing ovation upon returning to Somalia after the US border incident. UEFA confirmed the appointment via a tweet on June 11, 2026.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertOmar Artan appointed to referee UEFA Super Cup after World Cup ban by US border officials
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12. The appointment comes after Artan was denied entry to the United States by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Miami International Airport, preventing him from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Artan, who holds a valid visa and was selected as one of Africa's refereeing representatives, was turned away under the Trump administration's immigration policies. UEFA's decision was made in cooperation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan as an excellent referee and emphasized football's role in promoting unity and non-discrimination. Artan is a FIFA-listed referee since 2018 and won the CAF Men's Referee of the Year Award in 2025.
Mirror - FootballSomali Referee Denied US Entry for World Cup to Officiate PSG-Aston Villa in European Super Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States where he was scheduled to officiate during the 2026 World Cup, has been appointed by UEFA to referee the European Super Cup on August 12 between PSG and Aston Villa. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stated that football is meant to bring people together and that the appointment shows respect for Artan's remarkable refereeing qualities. The match pits the Champions League winner against the Europa League winner. The article was published by RMC Sport on June 11, 2026.
Home Football - actualitésSomali Referee Omar Artan, Denied US Entry for World Cup, to Officiate UEFA Super Cup
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, between Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League winner) and Aston Villa (Europa League champion). The 32-year-old Artan, a FIFA-listed referee since 2018 and 2025 African Male Referee of the Year, was selected for the 2026 World Cup but could not participate because he was denied authorization to enter the United States. His appointment is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) aimed at strengthening cooperation in refereeing. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan's career, while CAF President Patrice Motsepe called the appointment a source of pride for Somalia and African refereeing.
Últimas NoticiasSomali Referee Omar Artan, Barred from US World Cup, to Officiate 2026 UEFA Super Cup
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12. The appointment comes after Artan was unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to US immigration policies barring his entry despite a valid visa. Artan, 32, is the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year and officiated the CAF Champions League final. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and CAF President Patrice Motsepe praised the appointment as part of a new UEFA-CAF cooperation agreement, highlighting its symbolic value for African refereeing and football unity.
Últimas NoticiasSomali Referee Altan, Denied US Entry for World Cup, to Officiate UEFA Super Cup
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Altan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12. Altan, the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year, was previously selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but missed the tournament after being denied entry to the United States. The appointment is based on a recent Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and CAF aimed at promoting cooperation in refereeing and other areas. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Altan's skills and said football brings people together, while CAF President Patrice Motsepe called the appointment a great honor for African referees and an example of football uniting people across continents.
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