CAF Men’s Referee of the Year 2025, Omar Artan, has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup following his absence from the FIFA World Cup in the United States due to entry issues.
UEFA confirmed on Thursday that the Somali referee will take charge of the high-profile encounter between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
Artan, 34, has continued to rise rapidly within global football officiating ranks. Since becoming a FIFA-listed referee in 2018, he has handled several major continental fixtures, including the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.
His outstanding displays earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025, establishing him as one of Africa’s most respected match officials.
According to UEFA, Artan had initially been selected among the officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was unable to participate after reportedly being denied entry into the United States.
In recognition of his quality and contribution to the game, UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) jointly agreed to appoint him for the UEFA Super Cup under their expanded cooperation programme focused on referee development and international football unity.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan’s achievements and described him as one of the continent’s brightest officiating talents.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” Čeferin said.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe also welcomed the appointment, calling it a proud moment for Somalia and African football.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees,” Motsepe stated.
“It is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa, Europe and worldwide.”
The UEFA Super Cup traditionally opens the European club football season, featuring the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
