UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup just days after he was denied entry into the United States and ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.

Announcing the appointment on Thursday, UEFA said the decision followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under a recently signed cooperation agreement between the two bodies.

The 34-year-old has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025. Among the biggest matches of his career was the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised the Somali official, describing him as one of the leading young referees in world football.

“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” Čeferin said.

“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.”

CAF President Patrice Motsepe also welcomed the decision, saying Artan had made Somalia and Africa proud through his achievements on the international stage.

“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud,” Motsepe said.

“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.”

The appointment comes amid continuing debate over Artan’s exclusion from the FIFA World Cup. The Somali referee was among the officials selected for the tournament but was denied entry at Miami International Airport despite holding a valid visa and FIFA accreditation.

Artan later revealed he underwent an 11-hour immigration interview before being detained and placed on a return flight. FIFA subsequently confirmed that he would be unable to officiate at the World Cup, making his case one of several controversies surrounding the tournament, alongside Iran’s complaints over revoked fan ticket allocations and visa-related concerns affecting participating nations.

Kieran McKenna, the Manager of Ipswich football club has reportedly made the shock decision to step down at newly promoted Ipswich and will take a break from football.

McKenna, 40, has been a revelation at Ipswich, taking them from League One to the Premier League before relegation back to the Championship in 2024-25.

The Northern Irishman has now brought them back to the English top flight, but has been heavily linked with a move away to Fulham.

Per The Athletic, McKenna has now made the shock decision to step down at Ipswich and will take a break from football.

The former Man United coach still had two years left to run on his deal at the club, and Ipswich are understood to be financially protected should he decide to take a new job within the next 12-months.

Speaking on the club’s side, McKenna said: “It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and contentment that I have decided to step down from the honour of managing this historic football club.

“When you have the connection that we have built at this club there is never a good time to say goodbye.

“However, having achieved a second promotion to the Premier League last season, with another memorable final day in our stadium, and after reflection over the last couple of weeks, I feel this is the right time for me to step aside.

“I do so with great pride at the incredible progress we have made and with huge hope and optimism for the future of the club.

“To manage this club has been an absolute privilege. Over the last five seasons we have been on an incredible journey that has brought so many of the best experiences in my professional and personal life.

“After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far.

“There are so many people I would like to thank who have played their part in this journey. Firstly, to Mark Ashton and the Board for giving me the opportunity, at 35 years old, to manage such a massive football club, and for the unwavering support and trust they have shown ever since.

“To my coaching staff and all the wonderful staff at Portman Road and our Playford Road training centre, who work tirelessly to progress the club in every way. To all of the players who have represented the club with professionalism and passion over the past five years.

“Most importantly, thank you to the amazing fans and supporters of Ipswich Town. You have followed this football club through wonderful highs and difficult lows.

“I will be forever grateful for the way that you welcomed myself and my family, both to the football club and to the county of Suffolk. I will cherish the memories that we have shared together for the rest of my life.

“Ipswich Town will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Ivory Coast home-based fans have been denied visas to the United States, the president of the national supporters’ committee told AFP on Thursday.

The run-up to the World Cup, which kicks off Thursday, has been dogged by the visa policies of the main host nation, the United States. Somali referee Omar Artan was turned away Sunday and some support staff for the Iranian team have been denied entry.

The Ivory Coast supporters group, said Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE), which operates under the country’s Ministry of Sport, organises trips for the country’s small number of travelling fans to follow the team abroad.

“The supporters have cancelled the trip because the US government does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil. The United States has been clear with us, saying they do not want to see our supporters,” said Kouadio.

“This situation hurts us deeply because it prevents us from fulfilling our sacred duty, which is to support our team.”

Ivory Coast play two of their three group matches in Philadelphia, against Ecuador on June 15 and Curacao on June 25 either side of a trip to Toronto to face Germany.

In March, Kouadio told AFP he hoped 500 fans would travel across the Atlantic.

He said a handful of CNSE officials had been authorised to travel to the World Cup where they will “look after the Ivorian supporters based in the United States”, he said.

The CNSE estimates there will be more than 1,000 at matches.