Omar Artan invited to UEFA refereeing summit despite FIFA World Cup exclusion

UEFA has invited Somali referee Omar Artan to its first refereeing forum of the season, in another public show of confidence after he was appointed to take charge of the European Super Cup despite FIFA previously ruling him out of the World Cup in the United States.

The decision underlines the increasingly visible disagreement between UEFA and world governing body FIFA, with the dispute now reflected in the contrasting positions taken over refereeing appointments.

Artan was selected by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to referee the European Super Cup in Salzburg on 12 August. The match brought together Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the Champions League, and Aston Villa, winners of the Europa League. Paris Saint-Germain went on to claim another trophy.

UEFA’s decision to appoint Artan came despite an earlier FIFA decision to exclude the Somali official from the World Cup being held in the United States. The contrasting decisions have made Artan a central figure in the growing tension between the two organisations over refereeing matters.

The latest indication of UEFA’s backing came from the organisation’s refereeing committee, led by Roberto Rosetti. Artan has officially been issued a special invitation to attend the first refereeing forum of the season, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

The event will bring together leading referees from across Europe before the group stages of the Champions League and the continent’s other major club competitions begin. It is intended to establish the main refereeing principles and guidance that will apply during UEFA’s three European tournaments: the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League.

The forum will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, where UEFA is based, from 31 August to 2 September. The meeting will focus on evaluation and preparation ahead of the new campaign, with officials expected to receive guidance on the standards and decisions required in European competition.

Artan will attend alongside 35 referees from UEFA’s elite category, regarded as the leading match officials in Europe. A further 61 referees from the first category will also take part.

His presence as an invited guest will therefore represent a notable moment within European refereeing. Artan is not being included simply as another participant from UEFA’s established elite group; his invitation follows his prominent appointment to the European Super Cup and comes after FIFA had already excluded him from its World Cup plans.

UEFA’s decision to involve him in the Geneva forum provides another clear signal of support from Ceferin and Rosetti’s refereeing structure. It also ensures that the Somali official remains closely connected to the highest level of European refereeing activity, despite not being selected for the World Cup in the United States.