The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final, following his controversial denial of entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Background of the Visa Incident
Omar Artan, who was named Africa’s best male referee in 2025, was scheduled to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup. However, upon arrival at Miami International Airport, he was subjected to a lengthy interrogation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and subsequently denied entry, despite holding a diplomatic passport.
White House Official Defends Decision
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the denial, stating, “To this point, we’ve had 35 teams that have come into the United States. No players, no coaches have been denied. There have been some officials that have been denied, and for good reason.”
International Outcry and Hero’s Welcome
The decision sparked widespread criticism. Upon returning to Somalia, Artan received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu, with Somali officials calling on the global football community to rally in his support.
UEFA Steps In
UEFA has now intervened, awarding Artan the prestigious role of refereeing the Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. The governing body stated that discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) led to the appointment.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said, “Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Motsepe added that Artan had made Africa “extremely proud,” describing the appointment as “a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide.”
