Omar Artan to Referee UEFA Super Cup 2026 Final
Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup 2026 final between PSG and Aston Villa, taking place in Salzburg, Austria. This appointment is significant as Artan becomes the first non-European referee to oversee this prestigious match.
Artan's selection comes after a challenging period, during which he was denied entry into the United States prior to the 2026 World Cup due to security concerns, preventing him from officiating at the tournament. He expressed that many sympathize with his situation, emphasizing the difficulty of missing such an opportunity after years of hard work.
With a notable career, Artan has achieved several milestones, including being the first Somali referee at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 and officiating the 2025 CAF Champions League final. His upcoming role in the Super Cup final represents the pinnacle of his career thus far, marking his debut officiating in Europe.
Assisting Artan will be Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed from Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe from Kenya as assistant referees, with Rade Obrenovič from Slovenia as the fourth official. The VAR team includes Marco Di Bello from Italy and Guillermo Cuadra Fernández from Spain, showcasing UEFA's commitment to diversifying its officiating pool.
