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After the setback of being barred from entering the United States for the World Cup, Somali referee Omar Artan has scored a big professional rebound: UEFA has named him to officiate the Super Cup between Champions League winners PSG and Europa League champions Aston Villa. The high-profile fixture will be played on 12 August in Salzburg and offers Artan a global stage despite earlier travel troubles.
In a statement, European football's governing body said that decision had been taken after discussions with the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: "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.
"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 enthusiastically supporting our initiative."
Artan, the 2025 Caf men's referee of the year, who has been on Fifa's international list since 2018, was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals.
However, he was turned away by border officials in Miami despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.
On Wednesday, a US government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations".
Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump and after speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan would miss the tournament.
