Somali referee Omar Artan has encouraged young referees to keep pursuing their ambitions as he prepares to become the first non-European official to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup.
The 34-year-old will officiate Wednesday’s showdown in Salzburg between UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.
Artan has established himself as one of Africa’s prominent match officials.
He made history as the first Somali referee to handle a CAF Champions League final and was subsequently recognised as the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year.
His appointment for the UEFA Super Cup comes under a cooperation agreement between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) designed to deepen collaboration between the two organisations.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe welcomed the historic appointment, saying: “This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees.”
Artan was also among the referees selected for this year’s World Cup, but he was unable to participate after U.S. Customs and Border Protection prevented him from entering the United States, despite him holding a valid visa.
Reflecting on the setback, Artan said: “It was a very tough period.
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.”
The incident occurred amid heightened scrutiny over U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump.
The United States had imposed a broad travel ban covering citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
A U.S. administration official said Artan was refused entry because of alleged links to “suspected members of terror organizations”.
Despite the setback, Artan’s rise in international football has continued.
He was added to FIFA’s international list of referees in 2018 and, six years later, became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ahead of his historic UEFA assignment, Artan urged aspiring referees to remain confident in their ambitions.
“I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can,” he said. “Don’t ever stop dreaming.”
Artan will now take centre stage in Salzburg as Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa battle for the UEFA Super Cup title.
