Di 34-year-old Somali referee, Omar Artan, don become di first referee from outside Europe wey go take charge of di UEFA Super Cup. E go lead di match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa for Salzburg.
This one na historic achievement for Artan, wey don already break barrier as di first Somali to officiate for di CAF Champions League final, and wey later receive di CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award for 2025. E also make im way to di 2026 FIFA World Cup selection, but e no fit enter United States.
Di matter bin cause plenty drama, because Artan bin be part of di referees wey FIFA select for di World Cup, but dem turn am back for Miami International Airport. A US Department of State official tell AFP say im dey ‘associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations,’ and dis make am ineligible to enter di country. Artan reject dis allegations, and im bin get plenty support from Somalia and di world.
For interview with UEFA website, Artan talk say di period na very tough one. ‘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,’ e yarn. But e still dey grateful for di support wey e receive.
Artan’s story na one of resilience. Im papa die when e still young, and e grow up separate from im mama, so e don dey overcome wahala from small. E start im refereeing journey from informal neighbourhood games, and before e know am, e dey referee for di Somali league. ‘I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here and I’m really proud,’ e talk. ‘As you can imagine, I grew up in a difficult situation, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing my dreams.’
UEFA announce say Artan go referee di Super Cup as part of di memorandum of understanding wey dem sign with di Confederation of African Football (CAF) for end of April. Di agreement na to encourage cooperation between di two bodies, especially for refereeing. Dr Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, talk say: ‘This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees. It’s an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people.’
For im side, FIFA President Gianni Infantino comment on di US decision, saying: ‘It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia. We don’t control everything.’ Di appointment of Artan also dey seen as political gesture by UEFA, wey don dey oppose Infantino over di abandoned plan to open up di World Cup to private investors.
Artan, wey don dey referee league matches for Somalia and recently take charge of di Kuwaiti Premier League title decider, say e dey ready for di Super Cup. ‘I always watch di teams play. I like watching European football anyway but, regardless, I go through and do a lot of research on di teams, how dem play, learn their behaviours, tactics and a lot of things like that,’ e explain.
When e hear say e go referee di match, Artan talk say e be very happy moment for am and im family. ‘There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria, and dem dey over di moon with me officiating a match like this.’ E also send message to aspiring referees: ‘I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. You can do whatever you want to do. Don’t ever stop dreaming. If you want to be a referee, it’s the best thing that you can do. So go after it and do it, and don’t stop, regardless of what happens.’
Di match go hold for Wednesday between PSG and Aston Villa, and Artan go make history again. E don become di first Somali to officiate for Africa Cup of Nations for 2024, and now e dey set to referee im first match for Europe.
