Artan to Officiate PSG-Aston Villa Super Cup Match After World Cup Denial

Somali referee Omar Artan is set to make history on Wednesday night after being appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

Artan will become the first non-European referee to take charge of the Super Cup, UEFA’s traditional curtain raiser between the Champions League and Europa League winners.

The appointment comes amid controversy after the experienced official was reportedly denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.

UEFA confirmed Artan as the center referee for the clash at Stade Louis II, marking a landmark moment for African officiating on the European stage.

The 41-year-old FIFA-badged referee has handled several high-profile CAF matches, including AFCON and Champions League fixtures, and was part of the pool for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He will lead an all-African officiating team for the PSG vs Villa encounter, with the match scheduled for Wednesday night.

The Super Cup appointment is seen as a major recognition of Artan’s rise, even as questions remain over his exclusion from the 2026 World Cup.