Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, has been appointed to take charge of the Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa.
The contest between Champions League winners PSG and Aston Villa, who triumphed in the Europa League, is scheduled to take place on 12 August in Salzburg.
European football’s governing body said the decision had been taken after discussions with the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
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.
“I am grateful to my friend Caf president Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Artan, the 2025 Caf men’s referee of the year, who has been on Fifa’s international list since 2018, was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals.
However, he was turned away by border officials in Miami despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.
On Wednesday, a US government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations”.
Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by US President Donald Trump. After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan would miss the tournament.
Artan told the New York Times this week that he was questioned by border officials over his links to Somali militant group Al Shabab and had told them he knew nothing about the group.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” said Artan.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
Just 72 hours ago, Artan was on a flight back to Somalia, his hopes of refereeing at the World Cup ended by US immigration.
Instead of appearing on the biggest stage, he will get the opportunity to referee Uefa’s season curtain-raiser in Salzburg in August.
It is not quite the World Cup, of course, but he will become the first non-European official to take charge of the game.
Artan will finally get recognition for a year of hard work which resulted in him being named as Africa’s leading referee.
Uefa has been in contact with the Austrian Football Association and is confident that, unlike the situation in Miami, Artan will have no problem getting through security at Salzburg airport.
European football’s governing body is not commenting on the timing of the announcement, but it would seem a stretch to believe it is just a coincidence.
Yes, Uefa signed an agreement in April with the African Football Confederation (Caf) aimed at growing the game in both continents – including by offering opportunities to African officials.
In a similar agreement, Uefa and Conmebol exchanged a referee for Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021.
But can we join the dots? That European football’s governing body sensed the chance to score some points against Fifa, and took it?
The agreement with Caf was at the very least a convenient opportunity.
With 2026 World Cup ticket prices at unprecedented levels, Uefa has previously been quick to make a point. It says that for Euro 2028, the cheapest group stage tickets will cost 30 euros (£26) and 60 euros (£52) – and there will be no dynamic pricing.
Now with Artan barred from fulfilling his duties as a referee at the World Cup under Fifa’s watch, Uefa steps in to give the Somali a platform.
It is not difficult to draw conclusions.