Salzburg, MINA – Somali referee Omar Artan is set to make history as the first non-European referee to officiate a UEFA Super Cup match.
Artan will officiate the match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria on Wednesday.
PSG enters the match as the 2026 Champions League winners, while Aston Villa appears as the 2026 Europa League champions.
The 34-year-old referee had previously been selected to officiate at the 2026 World Cup but was ultimately unable to participate after being denied entry into the United States.
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Following the public disclosure of that news, UEFA appointed Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan’s quality and experience, noting him as one of Africa’s top referees.
“Omar Artan is an outstanding and experienced young referee. He has proven his abilities at the highest level of competition within the Confederation of African Football,” said Čeferin.
According to Čeferin, Artan’s appointment also reflects football’s spirit of connecting people from different parts of the world.
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“Football was created to connect people, and UEFA wishes to recognize Omar and his exceptional officiating skills, which earned him this prestigious nomination,” he stated. []
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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