Somali referee Omar Artan will make history as the first official from outside Europe to referee a match in the UEFA Super Cup when he takes charge of Paris Saint-Germain against Aston Villa in Salzburg.
The appointment marks a significant moment for the 34-year-old, who will oversee his first match on European soil. It also comes after a landmark year in which Artan was named the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year.
Artan’s involvement in the UEFA Super Cup has added importance because he was denied the opportunity to referee at the 2026 World Cup. His entry into the United States was refused because Somalia is included on the country’s list of nations subject to an entry ban.
The match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg will therefore represent more than a major European fixture for Artan. It will give him the chance to establish a place in the history of the competition through an unprecedented appointment.
Artan has previously spoken about the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup and the support he received after being prevented from travelling to the United States.
“Many people expressed their sympathy with me, because when you work for many years to achieve a goal and then you are ultimately unable to fulfil it, it is extremely difficult. I greatly appreciate the support I received from all over the world. I am truly grateful,” he told UEFA.
His selection for the UEFA Super Cup provides a notable stage for a referee whose career has continued to develop despite that setback. The assignment also gives the competition a historic first, with Artan becoming the first referee from outside the European continent to take charge of one of its matches.
At 34, Artan is entering the fixture with recognition from CAF already secured. His 2025 award established him as the continent’s leading men’s referee, while the appointment in Salzburg represents his first refereeing assignment in Europe.
For Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the match will be contested under the direction of an official making competition history. For Artan, it is an opportunity to return to the international spotlight and reach a significant career milestone after the circumstances that ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.
The Salzburg fixture will consequently place his name in the UEFA Super Cup record books, regardless of the result, as the first match in the tournament to be refereed by an official from outside Europe.