Somali referee Omar Artan first African to officiate UEFA competition

UEFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, marking a historic milestone as he becomes the first African referee ever appointed to officiate a match in a UEFA competition. The match, scheduled for 12 August 2026 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, will feature […]

UEFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, marking a historic milestone as he becomes the first African referee ever appointed to officiate a match in a UEFA competition.

The match, scheduled for 12 August 2026 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, will feature UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa.

The appointment follows discussions between the Union of European Football Associations UEFA and the Confederation of African Football Confédération Africaine de Football under a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in refereeing development and broader football governance.

Despite his relatively young age, Artan has rapidly risen through the ranks of global officiating. He has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2018 and has handled several high-profile fixtures, 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 in 2025. He was also included in FIFA’s match officials’ list for the 2026 World Cup, though he was unable to participate due to visa restrictions preventing entry into the United States.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as “an excellent young but already experienced referee” who has proven himself at the highest level in African football, adding that the appointment reflects UEFA’s commitment to cooperation, inclusion, and respect across confederations.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe hailed the decision as a landmark moment for African officiating, saying Artan’s rise represents both Somalia and the wider continent with distinction, and highlighting the appointment as a symbol of football’s unifying power across Africa and Europe.