Rabat – From Somalia to the UEFA Super Cup, Omar Artan continues to break new ground. As the first non-European referee appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, Artan’s journey shows how ambition, belief and hard work can open doors on football’s biggest stages.
According to UEFA’s official channels, Artan will become the first non-European referee to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup, marking another historic moment in his career.
The appointment comes after a difficult period for the Somali referee. Artan was unable to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, missing the opportunity to officiate at the global tournament.
“It was a very tough period,” Artan said. “A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging. I really appreciate the support I received throughout the world; I’m so grateful.”
Despite the disappointment, Artan refused to let the setback stop his career. Instead, he continued to pursue his ambitions, eventually receiving the news of his UEFA Super Cup appointment in early June, shortly after returning from the United States.
For Artan and his family, the announcement was a moment of great joy. He also spoke about the reaction from the Somali community in Europe and Austria, where his achievement has been widely celebrated.
“When we got this call, it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment,” he said. “There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria, and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this.”
Artan is a Somali international referee who has steadily built a reputation on the African football scene. He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2020, opening the door to international appointments and allowing him to officiate matches involving national teams and clubs.
Since then, he has worked in major African competitions, including the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. His performances have helped establish him as one of Somalia’s leading refereeing figures.
His UEFA Super Cup appointment now represents another major step in that journey. It also allows Artan to represent Somali and African refereeing on one of European football’s biggest stages.
His story is one of resilience as much as achievement. After missing out on the World Cup, Artan has turned a major disappointment into another historic opportunity, showing that one setback does not have to define a career.
