Omar Artan, the Somali referee prevented from officiating at the World Cup, will take charge of the Super Cup in August, Uefa has announced.
Artan found himself at the centre of controversy after being denied entry to the US, with the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, suggesting he was powerless to overrule Donald Trump’s administration. Somalia is one of 12 countries on a travel ban list introduced by the US president last year.
The 34-year-old Artan, considered one of Africa’s best referees, was refused entry at Miami international airport despite apparently having a valid travel visa.
Somali officials called for the football world to rally in support and Uefa has stepped in to reward Artan with the task of officiating the Super Cup fixture between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Vila in Salzburg on 12 August.
Uefa, European football’s governing body, said discussions with the Confederation of Africane Football (Caf) led to the appointment for the high-profile game.
“Football is made to connect people, and Uefa wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination,” said Uefa’s president, Aleksander Ceferin. “I am grateful to my friend Caf president Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative.”
Motsepe said Artan had made Africa “extremely proud”, adding: “This is a great honour 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.”
On Wednesday Artan was given a hero’s welcome in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where thousands of locals greeted the referee on his return.
