Somali referee Omar Artan grateful for Super Cup chance after World Cup exclusion

<ul><li><p>Referee was refused entry to US in June</p></li><li><p>Will take charge of PSG v Aston Villa on Wednesday</p></li></ul><p>The Somali referee Omar Artan, who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/08/top-african-referee-omar-artan-refused-access-to-the-united-states">was refused entry to the US</a> to officiate at the World Cup, has spoken publicly for the first time about the decision and detailed his pride as he prepares to take charge of Wednesday’s Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. Uefa awarded Artan the game days after the 34-year-old was prevented from working at the tournament.</p><p>Artan will make history in Salzburg by becoming the first non-European official to take charge of Uefa’s annual competition between the Champions League winners and the Europa League champions. “When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment,” he said. “There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/10/somali-referee-omar-artan-super-cup-psg-aston-villa-world-cup-exclusion">Continue reading...</a>