Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has requested permission to officiate in the Egyptian Premier League, in a move that could see one of Africa’s leading match officials take charge of domestic fixtures outside his home country.
The Somali Football Federation has reportedly submitted an official request to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), with Egyptian refereeing officials expressing a willingness to consider the proposal.
Essam Abdel-Fattah, chairman of Egypt’s refereeing committee, confirmed that Artan had expressed interest in officiating in the country but stressed that the arrangement requires approval from the EFA’s board.
According to reports from Egypt, Abdel-Fattah said he had no objection to the proposal and that Artan could officiate in the league once the necessary approval is secured. The final decision was expected to be considered by the association’s board.
Artan’s request comes after a significant period in his career, during which he has strengthened his reputation as one of the continent’s leading referees.
A FIFA international referee since 2018, the Somali official has handled major African fixtures, including the second leg of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League final between Egypt’s Pyramids FC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
He was also named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year for 2025 in recognition of his performances.
