Omar Artan – Africa’s Best…
He is just 34 and has already made a name for himself. Somalian Omar Artan, a member of the prestigious FIFA-listed referees since 2018 and one of the best coming out of Africa, has been selected to officiate the one-off UEFA Super Cup clash between PSG and Aston Villa at Salzburg, Austria, on the night of August 12.
… And First Non-European To Officiate in the UEFA Super Cup
Omar Artan will be the first non-European to adjudicate a UEFA Super Cup match and will be at the helm alongside assistant referees Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed from Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe from Kenya.
Selected For The FIFA World Cup…
Named the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year, Omar Artan was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to become the first Somali referee in the tournament’s history.
… But Turned Away
On June 6, 2026, Artan was turned away by U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon arriving at Miami International Airport despite holding a valid visa. The exclusion stemmed from travel ban policies enforced by the U.S. administration affecting Somali nationals, leading FIFA to formally remove him from the tournament roster.
Omar Returned To Mogadishu Disheartened
Omar Artan returned to Mogadishu disheartened, but received a rousing welcome and was hailed as a hero. Omar’s exclusion turned into an international political debate as several stood in support of Omar.
But UEFA Stepped In To Reward His Credentials
UEFA then selected Omar Artan to officiate in the UEFA Super Cup not only to reward his credentials but also to make good the disappointment of not having been able to officiate in a World Cup.
The Somalian Got His Due In The End
The Somalian, though disappointed, did not hold any public grudge about missing the World Cup and got his due in the end.
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