UEFA, in collaboration with its sister confederation the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup scheduled for 12 August in Salzburg
The match will be contested between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC.
Despite his relatively young age, Artan has already built a strong reputation as one of the top referees globally. He has been on the FIFA international referees list since 2018 and has handled several high-profile matches, including the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. His performances earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award for 2025.
Artan was also included on FIFA’s officiating list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he was unable to participate due to visa restrictions preventing him from entering the United States.
UEFA said the appointment forms part of a wider cooperation agreement with CAF aimed at strengthening football development and refereeing standards across both continents under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding. The two bodies also highlighted shared values such as unity, equality, and non-discrimination.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as a highly capable official, saying: “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. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe praised the appointment, noting that Artan has brought pride to Somalia and the African continent. “Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African Continent, extremely proud. His receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys. I am very thankful to my friend, Aleksander Čeferin for enabling Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup 2026 match,” he said.
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