Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA’s Super Cup, European football’s governing body announced.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin poured praise on the Somali referee in a statement released a few hours before global body FIFA’s flagship World Cup was to start.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” said Ceferin.
“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.”
UEFA said that after talks with the African confederation, it “has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup” on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.
Artan’s case has been one of many incidents to taint the run-up to FIFA’s World Cup.
UEFA said Artan’s appointment came in the framework of an accord between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation.
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“UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination,” it said.
Artan was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport. A US State Department official told AFP that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations”, therefore “making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States”.
FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup. Artan’s appointment to the 52-strong roster of referees for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States had been a huge source of pride for his compatriots.
He returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday and vowed to take part in the next World Cup in 2030.
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