Somali Referee Omar Artan Named to Officiate UEFA Super Cup Final

PARIS — UEFA has handed Somali referee Omar Adan Artan one of the biggest appointments of his career, naming him to take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, a notable milestone for Somali and African football.

The match will be played on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, and will bring together Champions League winners PSG and Aston Villa, who earned their place as Europa League champions.

UEFA said the decision came after talks with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which recently entered into a new cooperation agreement with the European body focused on improving several areas of the sport, including referee development.

“We’re pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg,” it said.

Artan is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading referees. He has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018 and, despite his relatively young age, has already handled major continental and international matches, including the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.

His standing in African football was further underscored in 2025, when he was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year for his performances across the continent’s competitions.

FIFA had also listed Artan among the referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, but he was unable to take part after being denied entry into the United States.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan as a referee of “exceptional quality” who has consistently proven himself at the top level, adding that the appointment reflected UEFA’s respect for his professionalism and record in international officiating.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the move as a point of pride for Somalia and for Africa as a whole.

“Omar Adan Artan has brought great honour to Somalia and Africa. His appointment to this match, together with his previous achievements, is a testament to his world-class ability and the reputation he has earned in global football,” Motsepe said.

The assignment places Artan among the most prominent Somali referees ever given responsibility for an official UEFA match, a development many see as a historic step for Somali and African refereeing.

AXADLETM