Omar Artan was turned away at Miami airport, his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa not enough to convince border officials he should be allowed to officiate at the World Cup. Three days later, the Somali referee has been handed one of European football's biggest fixtures: the Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa.
The 2025 Caf men's referee of the year had been selected as Africa's representative for the tournament in the United States, but US Customs and Border Protection sent him back on a return flight to Turkey. A US government official said Artan was barred because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations". Artan insisted he "had the right papers and the right visa". After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa confirmed he would miss the tournament.
“Somali referee Omar Artan, denied US entry for the World Cup, will instead officiate the Uefa Super Cup final.”
European football's governing body moved swiftly. Following discussions with the Confederation of African Football, Uefa appointed Artan to referee the Super Cup on 12 August in Salzburg. The match pits Champions League winners PSG against Europa League champions Aston Villa, who had just spoiled Pep Guardiola's final game in charge of Manchester City with an Ollie Watkins double.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: "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. Football is made to connect people, and Uefa wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination."
Ceferin added he was grateful to Caf president Patrice Motsepe "for supporting enthusiastically our initiative". The decision was made under a memorandum of understanding recently signed between Uefa and Caf to encourage cooperation in refereeing. Artan, who has been on Fifa's international list since 2018, returned to a hero's reception when he landed back in Somalia. He had been set to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals.