Somalian referee arrives in Europe as hero

Just a few months ago, Somali referee Omar Artan suffered heartbreak when denied entry into the United States, shattering his World Cup dream. Leaving that disappointment behind, the 34-year-old referee has now arrived in Europe to a hero's welcome. Upon landing at Salzburg Airport in Austria, fans surrounded him with immense enthusiasm, many taking photos and shaking hands with him.

Artan first came into the international spotlight during the 2026 World Cup. Because the tournament was held in the United States and he was refused entry, he was unable to officiate any matches. However, right after that setback, new doors opened for him. He has been assigned to officiate the upcoming UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. With this appointment, Artan is set to make history as the first referee born outside of Europe to officiate a UEFA Super Cup match.

The past year and a half has been a rollercoaster for Artan's career. He became the first Somali to officiate an African Champions League final and was named Africa's Referee of the Year in 2025. He was subsequently selected for the 2026 World Cup, only for his World Cup dream to be halted due to the denial of entry into the United States.

That period was not easy for him. Artan told the UEFA website that after working hard for a long time, losing the chance to showcase his abilities right when it mattered was extremely painful. However, he noted that the support he received from people worldwide gave him the strength to move forward.