By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 11 June 2026 – Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, UEFA said on Thursday.
The match is scheduled for Aug. 12 and will bring together UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.
UEFA said Artan’s appointment followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football, CAF, and came under a recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two confederations aimed at strengthening cooperation, including in refereeing.
Artan, 34, has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
UEFA said Artan had established himself as one of the world’s top referees, having officiated major African football matches, including the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.
Artan had been included by FIFA on the list of match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but was unable to participate after being barred from entering the United States.
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UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as “an excellent young but already experienced referee,” saying the appointment recognised his performance at the highest level of African football.
“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,” Čeferin said.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had made Somalia and Africa proud, describing the appointment as an honour for African referees.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees,” Motsepe said.
The appointment marks a major international assignment for Artan after the World Cup setback and comes amid renewed attention on his refereeing career in Somalia and across Africa.