Omar Artan to referee Super Cup in Salzburg after World Cup entry refusal

Omar Artan, the Somali referee who was refused entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, has spoken publicly for the first time and will take charge of Wednesday’s Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg. UEFA awarded Artan the match days after he was prevented from working at this summer’s tournament.

The 34-year-old will become the first non-European official to oversee UEFA’s annual contest between the Champions League winners and the Europa League champions. He is regarded as one of Africa’s best referees and said: "When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment." Artan added that the Somali community in Europe and in Austria were "over the moon with me officiating a match like this."

Artan inadvertently became the centre of controversy in June when he was denied entry at Miami international airport and therefore could not participate at the World Cup. The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said he was powerless to overrule Donald Trump’s administration. The article notes Somalia is one of 12 countries on a travel ban list introduced by the US president last year.

Describing the period after the refusal, Artan said: "It was a very tough period." He also 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, though; I’m so grateful."

To prepare for the Super Cup at the Red Bull Arena, Artan refereed league matches in Somalia and in the Kuwaiti Premier League. He told UEFA: "We referees go through a lot of preparation in terms of getting to know the teams. I always watch the teams play. I like watching European football anyway but, regardless, I go through and do a lot of research on the teams, how they play, learn their behaviours, tactics and a lot of things like that."

Artan will be assisted on the day by two other African officials: Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed (Djibouti) and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe (Kenya).

The confirmed next step is Artan’s appointment to referee Paris Saint-Germain v Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.