UEFA Names Omar Artan Referee for PSG vs Aston Villa Final

Omar Artan will referee PSG vs Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on August 12 in Salzburg, UEFA confirmed June 11.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan appointed to officiate PSG vs Aston Villa UEFA Super Cup final 2026

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

UEFA confirmed the appointment on June 11, naming Artan as centre referee for the PSG vs Aston Villa showdown.

The match will be played on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria, at the Red Bull Arena.

It pits UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC.

From World Cup snub to Super Cup spotlight

Artan, 34, had been named among the match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs from 11 June to 19 July.

He was forced to miss the tournament after US authorities refused him entry, despite holding a valid visa.

European football body UEFA said his Super Cup appointment followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football, CAF, and formed part of a recently signed cooperation agreement between the two bodies.

The appointment makes Artan the first Somali, and one of the first African referees, to officiate a major UEFA final.

What UEFA said

In its announcement, UEFA said: "We're pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg."

Artan received a hero's welcome on his return to Mogadishu on June 10, after the World Cup visa denial.

PSG go into the Super Cup as Champions League holders, with Aston Villa coming in as Europa League champions. Kickoff in Salzburg is set for August 12.