Omar Artan Selected to Officiate UEFA Super Cup Match
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Aden Artan, who was recently denied entry into the United States and returned to Somalia, has been selected to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match scheduled to take place on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
Artan will officiate the match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa. According to information published on the UEFA Champions League Facebook page, Artan has been appointed as the referee for the Super Cup fixture between PSG and Aston Villa.
The UEFA Super Cup is contested between clubs that have achieved success in Europe’s major competitions.
His appointment comes just days after he was denied entry into the United States on Saturday and turned back at Miami International Airport.
Artan had been among 52 referees selected to officiate matches at the FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to begin in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As a result of the travel issue, he missed the opportunity to participate in the tournament.
Artan arrived at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport yesterday morning, where he was warmly welcomed by a large crowd.
The decision to deny him entry into the United States attracted widespread international attention and sparked criticism, with many expressing concern over his exclusion from the tournament, when Trump administration refused him to enter US.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Mogadishu, Artan said he remains undeterred by the setback and intends to continue pursuing his refereeing career. He also expressed confidence that he will be among the officials selected for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
