Omar Artan relishes Super Cup role after World Cup setback

Omar Artan says his appointment to the Super Cup has brought joy to him and his family after a painful summer in which he was unable to officiate at the World Cup. The Somali referee is now preparing to take charge of Paris Saint-Germain against Aston Villa on Wednesday, in a landmark moment for both his own career and Uefa competition history.

A significant appointment for Artan

Uefa handed the 34-year-old the Super Cup fixture only days after he was prevented from working at the World Cup. In Salzburg, Artan will become the first non-European referee to oversee Uefa’s annual meeting between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League.

Artan described the appointment as a deeply emotional moment, not only personally but also for those around him. He said the news was met with happiness in his household and pointed to the pride felt by Somali communities in Europe and Austria at seeing him given such a high-profile match.

World Cup disappointment in the background

Artan has spoken publicly for the first time about the episode that denied him the chance to work at the World Cup. He was refused entry at Miami international airport on 6 June, a development that placed him at the centre of a wider controversy.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino indicated he could not override the administration of Donald Trump. Somalia is among 12 countries included on a US travel ban list introduced last year.

Artan acknowledged the personal toll of that experience, describing it as a difficult period after years of work had led to an opportunity he was then unable to fulfil. He also made clear how much the support he received from around the world meant to him.

Focused on PSG and Aston Villa

Despite that setback, Artan has continued his preparations in the usual way. Ahead of the match at the Red Bull Arena, he has been officiating league fixtures in Somalia and in the Kuwaiti Premier League.

He also outlined the level of detail involved in his work before a major assignment. Artan said referees spend significant time studying the teams involved, including their style of play, tactical tendencies and on-pitch behaviour. For a fixture featuring PSG and Aston Villa, that process has formed a central part of his build-up.

A wider African presence on the officiating team

Artan will not be the only African official involved in the Super Cup. He will be assisted by Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed of Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe of Kenya.

• Referee: Omar Artan (Somalia)
• Assistant referee: Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed (Djibouti)
• Assistant referee: Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe (Kenya)

For Artan, the occasion represents more than a prestigious appointment. It is also a chance to move forward after a bitter disappointment and to do so on one of European football’s most visible stages.