SALZBURG — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
The appointment places Artan at the centre of one of Europe’s most prestigious season-opening fixtures, to be played at the Red Bull Arena (Stadion Salzburg), marking another significant milestone in his international refereeing career.
The match will pit UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, led by manager Luis Enrique, against Europa League champions Aston Villa, coached by Unai Emery, in a contest expected to draw global attention due to the stature of both clubs and their recent European success.
UEFA’s decision to assign Artan to the fixture underscores his growing profile within international officiating circles, where referees are selected based on performance, consistency, and experience at elite level competitions.
Artan has previously officiated in major continental and international matches, steadily building a reputation as one of the prominent referees from Africa working under UEFA assignments.
Meanwhile, reports circulating on social media have alleged that Artan was previously denied entry to the United States in connection with possible officiating duties related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
No official statement has been issued regarding the reports, and there is currently no publicly verified documentation supporting the allegations.
UEFA has not commented on the matter, while Artan’s latest appointment is being viewed as a strong indication of continued confidence in his officiating at the highest level of European football.
The UEFA Super Cup is traditionally a single-match contest between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and serves as a curtain-raiser for the European football season.
