Somali Referee Omar Artan to Officiate UEFA Super Cup

Omar Artan, a Somali referee, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match scheduled for August 12, 2023, between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa, the winners of the Champions League and Europa League, respectively. This appointment follows Artan's exclusion from officiating at the World Cup due to visa complications that prevented him from entering the United States.

Despite holding a diplomatic passport, he was unable to secure a single-entry US visa. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin acknowledged Artan's outstanding officiating skills and experience at the highest competitive levels, which earned him this prestigious nomination.

CAF President Patric Motsepe expressed support for Artan, who is also a candidate for the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award. Artan previously made history as the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup final in 2018.