GENEVA (AP) 鈥� who was barred by the United States from the World Cup was picked on Thursday for the showcase UEFA Super Cup game in August.
European soccer body UEFA said Artan will referee the Aug. 12 game between and . The game will be in Salzburg, Austria.
鈥淔ootball is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,鈥� UEFA president Aleksander 膶eferin said in a statement.
Artan got a on Wednesday, days after he was refused entry in Miami and questioned for 11 hours by U.S. authorities despite being picked by FIFA for World Cup duty. He was sent away on a flight to Turkey.
U.S. officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though without providing proof.
Artan’s treatment heightened concerns about U.S. immigration policy around the World Cup that was ‘ top human rights official on Wednesday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday it was powerless to prevent Artan’s ordeal, and “we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.鈥�
The 34-year-old referee was judged the best in Africa last season and worked the decisive game in the continent’s Champions League final last month.
膶eferin said UEFA worked on the plan with the Confederation of African Football and its president Patrice Motsepe. 膶eferin and Motsepe both are FIFA vice presidents.
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud,” Motsepe said in the UEFA statement.
“This is a great honor for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide,鈥� Motsepe said, hours before his native South Africa opened the World Cup against co-host Mexico. They play at the storied Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
___
AP World Cup:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
