Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria. The match will see Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain face Europa League winners Aston Villa, and Artan will become the first non-European official ever to take charge of the fixture — a milestone that carries particular significance given the circumstances that led to his appointment.

Artan, 34, was among 52 referees selected by FIFA for the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid single-entry US visa, he was stopped by border officials in Miami and subjected to an eleven-hour interrogation before being placed on a flight to Turkey and then back to Somalia. US authorities alleged he had associations with suspected members of terror organisations, a claim made without public evidence. Somalia is among several countries subject to a travel ban introduced by President Donald Trump. Artan, who has been on FIFA's international list since 2018, told the New York Times he was questioned about his alleged links to the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab.