Somali referee to make history after missing out on World Cup dream
- Somali referee Omar Artan is set to make history as the first non-European official to referee the Uefa Super Cup, overseeing Wednesday’s match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg.
- The 34-year-old’s historic appointment follows a devastating setback earlier this summer when he was turned away by US Customs and Border Protection ahead of the World Cup despite holding a valid visa.
- US officials cited alleged connections to suspected members of terror organisations for denying Artan entry, amid broader immigration travel bans enacted under US president Donald Trump affecting Somali citizens.
- Artan, who was named Caf Men’s Referee of the Year after becoming the first Somali to officiate a Caf Champions League final, described missing out on the World Cup as a deeply challenging period.
- The landmark assignment comes as part of a strategic cooperation agreement signed earlier this year between Uefa and the Confederation of African Football to enhance collaboration between the governing bodies.
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