Omar Artan’s appointment to the UEFA Super Cup is a significant first for the competition and for the 34-year-old Somali referee. Under cooperation between UEFA and CAF, he will become the first non-European to take charge of the match in Salzburg, and it also marks his first game in Europe.
That matters because Artan has spent the past decade breaking new ground. He was added to FIFA’s international list of match officials in 2018, became the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, and in the past 18 months he has also become the first Somali to oversee a CAF Champions League final while winning the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025.
Why this appointment stands out
The UEFA Super Cup is one of European football’s showcase fixtures, so a non-European referee being handed the role is a notable moment in itself. It also underlines the relationship between UEFA and CAF, which signed a memorandum of understanding at the end of April.
Dr Patrice Motsepe said the appointment was “a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees” and called it “an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people.”
For Artan, the appointment is a reward for persistence after a difficult few months. After being selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he was not permitted to enter the United States for the tournament. He described that spell as “a very tough period,” and said many people sympathised with him because it was hard to be prepared for something and then not be able to do it.
Artan's response
Artan said he was grateful for the support he received around the world, adding that he was “so grateful” and that he had worked hard to get to this point. He also said, “I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here and I’m really proud,” while explaining that he grew up “in a difficult situation” but that it did not stop him from pursuing his dreams.
He made clear that the UEFA Super Cup is a special assignment: “This will be my first match in Europe.” He also praised the collaboration between the two confederations, saying it was fantastic that CAF is working with UEFA, which he described as the best confederation in the world for referees.
Artan added that the standard in Europe is “fantastic” and that the football played there is “very, very good.” His view was that referees from both sides can learn from each other, calling the arrangement mutually beneficial. In his words, he is honoured to have been appointed for “this huge match” and wanted to thank UEFA, the CAF president and everybody at CAF.
The wider significance is clear. This is not just a personal milestone for Artan; it is also a marker of cooperation between UEFA and CAF, and a reminder that refereeing appointments can reflect football’s wider global direction. For Artan, though, the immediate focus is simpler: making the most of a first European assignment on one of the game’s biggest stages.
