Somali referee picked for Uefa showpiece match after he was denied US entry for World Cup
Somali World Cup referee denied entry to US arrives home to hero’s welcome
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed by Uefa to officiate the Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August.
Artan was previously denied entry into the United States for the World Cup earlier this week due to alleged links to “suspected members of terror organisations”, which designated him a “national security threat”.
Despite possessing a correct visa, Artan, named Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, had his “biggest dream” of officiating at the World Cup thwarted at the US border.
His denial of entry led to heightened criticism of the US administration and Fifa regarding inclusivity promises for the World Cup.
Uefa stated that Artan, a highly-regarded official on the Fifa international list since 2018, was appointed to promote its core values of unity, equality, and non-discrimination.
