06/11/26 08:47:00
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06/11 08:36 CDT Somali ref Artan picked for showpiece UEFA game after being
barred by US from World Cup
Somali ref Artan picked for showpiece UEFA game after being barred by US from
World Cup
By GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer
GENEVA (AP) --- Somali referee Omar Artan who was barred by the United States
from the World Cup was picked on Thursday for the showcase UEFA Super Cup game
in August.
European soccer body UEFA said Artan will referee the Aug. 12 game between
Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the Europa League
winner. The game will be in Salzburg, Austria.
"Football is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar
and his outstanding officiating skills," UEFA president Aleksander ?eferin said
in a statement.
Artan got a hero's welcome returning to Somalia on Wednesday, days after he was
refused entry in Miami and questioned for 11 hours by U.S. authorities despite
being picked by FIFA for World Cup duty. He was sent away on a flight to Turkey.
U.S. officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though
without providing proof.
Artan's treatment heightened concerns about U.S. immigration policy around the
World Cup that was criticized by the United Nations ' top human rights official
on Wednesday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday it was powerless to prevent
Artan's ordeal, and "we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world
who can rule over governments and police forces."
The 34-year-old referee was judged the best in Africa last season and worked
the decisive game in the continent's Champions League final last month.
?eferin said UEFA worked on the plan with the Confederation of African Football
and its president Patrice Motsepe. ?eferin and Motsepe both are FIFA vice
presidents.
"Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent
extremely proud," Motsepe said in the UEFA statement.
"This is a great honor 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," Motsepe said, hours before his native South Africa
opened the World Cup against co-host Mexico. They play at the storied Azteca
Stadium in Mexico City.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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