Sawt Falasteen - Somali referee banned by US to officiate UEFA Super Cup

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 on of many incidents to taint the runup to FIFA's World Cup.

UEFA said Artan's appointment came in the framework of an accord between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation.

"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.

- African pride -

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had "made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent, extremely proud".

"His receipt of the CAF men's referee of the year award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys."

His appointment to referee the Super Cup "is 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", Motsepe said.

A senior advisor to the Somali Ministry of Sports said Artan's case had generated "significant concern both within Somalia and internationally".

"We have been in contact with a range of sporting bodies since yesterday, especially in Europe, to raise awareness of the issue and request their support," Ciise Aden Abshir told AFP.

"UEFA's decision came in response to the support we requested, and we believe it has helped uphold the principles of integrity and fair play in football.

"Officiating the UEFA Super Cup is a unique opportunity, and we are grateful to UEFA for its support."

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 traveler 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.

G.AbuGhazaleh--SF-PST