The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that Somali referee Omar Aden Artan has been appointed to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, which will be played between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa.
The match is scheduled to take place on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria, and will pit Champions League winners PSG against Europa League winners Aston Villa.
The appointment follows discussions between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), who recently signed a new partnership agreement to develop various aspects of football, particularly refereeing.
Omar Aden Artan, one of Africa’s most renowned referees, has been on the FIFA international referees’ list since 2018. Despite his young age, he has officiated at major continental and international level matches, including the second leg of the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League final.
In 2025, he also won the African Men’s Referee of the Year award, which CAF gave him after his outstanding performances in continental competitions.
Although FIFA had already included him on the list of referees for the 2026 World Cup, Artan was unable to participate in the tournament after being denied entry to the United States.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said that Artan is a high-quality referee who has already proven himself, and his appointment shows UEFA’s respect for his skills and the level of international refereeing he has achieved.
For his part, CAF President Patrice Motsepe described Artan’s appointment as a great honour for Somalia and the African continent as a whole.
“Omar Aden Artan has brought great honour to Somalia and Africa. His appointment in this match and his previous achievements are a testament to his world-class talent and reputation in world football,” said Motsepe.
This appointment makes Omar Aden Artan one of the highest-ranking Somali referees ever to be entrusted with the officiating of an official UEFA match, which is considered a historic achievement for Somali and African refereeing.
