Omar Artan, the 34-year-old Somali referee, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, becoming the first non-European to take charge of the prestigious match. The announcement, made under the framework of a cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF, marks another milestone in a remarkable career that has seen Artan break new ground for African refereeing.
Artan’s journey to the Super Cup has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the past 18 months alone, he has become the first Somali to oversee a CAF Champions League final, received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award for 2025, and earned selection to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His appointment to the Super Cup now adds another historic first to his growing list of achievements.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees,” said Dr Patrice Motsepe, CAF president. “It’s an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people.”
Artan’s path to the top has been marked by resilience. He was brought up apart from his mother, and his father died tragically young. Starting as a minor playing injury, he began refereeing in neighbourhood games before moving to school fixtures, eventually working his way up to the Somali league.
“I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here and I’m really proud,” Artan said. “As you can imagine, I grew up in a difficult situation, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing my dreams.”
Not everything has gone smoothly. Artan was not permitted to enter the United States for the World Cup, a disappointment that he admits was “a very tough period.” However, he has received widespread support, adding that he is “so grateful” for the sympathy and encouragement from around the world.
The decision to appoint Artan was made in the framework of a memorandum of understanding signed in April between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in areas including refereeing.
Artan sees the collaboration as mutually beneficial. “I believe that CAF referees can learn a lot from UEFA, and UEFA referees can also learn a lot from CAF. It’s mutually beneficial,” he said.
Artan, who will be joined by assistants Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed (Djibouti) and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe (Kenya) for the match, received the news of his appointment shortly after returning from the United States.
“There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria, and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this,” he said.
He offered a simple message to aspiring referees everywhere. “I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. You can do whatever you want to do. Don’t ever stop dreaming,” Artan said. “Learn new things every day, refine your skills and, most importantly, be fair and consistent.”
The UEFA Super Cup will mark Artan’s first match in Europe, and he is determined to make the most of the opportunity, highlighting the importance of preparation and research. “I always watch the teams play. I go through and do a lot of research on the teams, how they play, learn their behaviours, tactics,” he said.
Artan’s appointment is a significant moment not only for his personal journey but also for the recognition of African refereeing talent on the global stage.
