Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate PSG-Aston Villa Super Cup
The UEFA Super Cup is a special football match between the winners of Europe's two biggest club competitions.
This year, Paris Saint-Germain, who won the Champions League, will play Aston Villa, who won the Europa League.
The game is in Salzburg on Wednesday.
The referee will be Omar Artan, who comes from Somalia.
He was supposed to referee at the World Cup, but the United States stopped him just before it started because they had concerns about him.
The United States did not show proof for its concerns, and many people thought that was unfair.
UEFA, Europe's football organization, chose Artan for this big match instead, and his appointment was widely celebrated.
UEFA is also unhappy with FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino, over his plan to sell part of the World Cup.
PSG want to win the Super Cup two years in a row, something only Real Madrid has done in the modern era.
Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on Wednesday.
Artan, judged Africa's best referee last season, was barred by United States officials from the World Cup over vetting concerns, without proof being provided.
UEFA's appointment of Artan was widely celebrated and highlighted its strained relationship with FIFA and its campaign to oust president Gianni Infantino.
PSG, featuring Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, can become the second team in the modern era to retain the Super Cup, after Real Madrid in 2016 and 2017.
Aston Villa sold Lucas Digne to PSG for a reported 10 million euros and lost Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, while signing Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes.
- Who
- Paris Saint-Germain, coached by Luis Enrique and featuring Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Aston Villa, coached by Unai Emery; Somali referee Omar Artan takes charge.
- What
- The UEFA Super Cup between Champions League winners PSG and Europa League winners Villa, a match that also highlights the dispute between UEFA and FIFA.
- When
- Wednesday, barely three weeks after the World Cup final.
- Where
- Salzburg.
- Why
- To decide the first trophy of the new European soccer season between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League; UEFA's choice of the World Cup-barred referee Omar Artan also underscores its tension with FIFA.
UEFA and the football community
United States officials and FIFA
Omar Artan's World Cup exclusion
UEFA and the football community
UEFA and much of the football community supported Artan, naming him to referee the Super Cup in a widely celebrated move after United States officials barred him from the World Cup without providing proof.
United States officials and FIFA
United States officials barred Artan from the World Cup because of vetting concerns, claiming he had connections to terror organizations.
FIFA leadership
UEFA and the football community
UEFA is leading a campaign to remove Gianni Infantino from the FIFA presidency and has increased pressure since his aborted plan to sell an interest in the World Cup.
United States officials and FIFA
FIFA president Gianni Infantino backed a plan to sell an interest in the World Cup, a move UEFA strongly opposes; the plan was eventually abandoned, deepening the rift.
- Event
- UEFA Super Cup
- Teams
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
- Location
- Salzburg
- Referee
- Omar Artan (Somalia), first non-European in the role
- Timing
- Wednesday, barely three weeks after the World Cup final
- Digne transfer fee
- 10 million euros ($11.6 million)
- Last year's Super Cup
- PSG beat Tottenham on penalties
- Villa's Europa League final
- 3-0 win over Freiburg