Omar Artan Makes History as First Non-European Referee for UEFA Super Cup

Historic Appointment for Omar Artan

In a groundbreaking achievement, Somalian referee Omar Artan has become the first non-European official to oversee the UEFA Super Cup, held in Vienna, Austria, on August 13. This milestone reflects a significant moment in football officiating history.

Previously, Artan was selected by FIFA to be part of the officiating team for the FIFA World Cup 2026; however, he was unable to attend due to entry restrictions imposed by the United States government, which cited his alleged connections to individuals linked to terrorist organizations.

On Saturday, both the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) appointed Artan to officiate the prestigious UEFA Super Cup for 2026.

History made!

Omar Artan is officially the first ever non-European to take charge of the UEFA #SuperCup! pic.twitter.com/IWdVEDaSsb

— UEFA (@UEFA) August 12, 2026

Artan has built a reputation as one of the leading referees globally and has been on FIFA's international officiating list since 2018. He notably officiated the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final and was honored with the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award in 2025 for his outstanding performances.

In the match itself, UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) triumphed over Europa League champions Aston Villa with a score of 2-1 at Red Bull Arena Salzburg. Desire Doue netted the decisive goal for PSG in the 61st minute, securing the victory.

The match began with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring for PSG in the 20th minute, only for Aston Villa's 17-year-old Brian Madjo to equalize just before halftime, making history as the youngest goal-scorer in the competition's history. Despite Aston Villa's efforts, PSG maintained their lead and celebrated the start of their season with a trophy.