The center referee for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final between PSG and Aston Villa will be Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali official who becomes the first non-European referee in the competition’s history to oversee the match.
Artan’s appointment in Salzburg, Austria, marks his inaugural assignment on a European club stage. This selection carries significant meaning given what Artan endured just months prior.
The referee was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport before the 2026 World Cup due to security concerns, which forced him to withdraw from World Cup duty and generated considerable controversy in his home country.
Reflecting on his journey, Artan told UEFA: “A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging.” Regarding his Super Cup appointment, he added: “I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here and I’m really proud.”
Artan’s International Refereeing Career
Artan has established one of the most distinguished African referee résumés in recent years. He made history in 2024 as the first Somali official selected for the Africa Cup of Nations, a significant achievement for a nation with limited football infrastructure. His performances earned him recognition as Africa’s leading referee that season.
His career highlights also include the 2025 CAF Champions League final, one of continental football’s most prestigious club competitions, and his selection for the 2026 World Cup—an assignment that ultimately did not occur due to his U.S. entry denial. Wednesday’s Super Cup final now represents the pinnacle of his refereeing career to date and his first European final.
Complete Officiating Team for PSG vs Aston Villa
Artan will be supported by first assistant referee Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed of Djibouti and second assistant referee Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe of Kenya, with Slovenia’s Rade Obrenovič serving as fourth official. In the VAR room, Italy’s Marco Di Bello will act as Video Assistant Referee, assisted by Spain’s Guillermo Cuadra Fernández as AVAR. This officiating crew exemplifies UEFA’s expanding global reach in selecting match officials for its premier fixtures.
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