Somali Referee Omar Artan Calls Super Cup His World Cup

Somali referee Omar Artan officiated the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, describing the experience as his “World Cup.” Artan, 34, was selected by FIFA for the World Cup but was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport due to allegations of being associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations. Following this incident, UEFA invited him to officiate the Super Cup in Salzburg, where Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1.

UEFA shared a photograph of a match ball with Artan's inscription: “This was my World Cup.” After his return to Somalia, Artan was welcomed as a hero, and he took to Instagram to thank UEFA and the Confederation of African Football for their support. This assignment marked a significant milestone in Artan’s refereeing career, allowing him to officiate on a major international stage despite missing the World Cup.