UEFA appoints Omar Artan to officiate super cup

[Emjay24]

We all remember the referee enlisted by FIFA to officiate the world cup denied entry into the US due to suspected links to Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group operating in Somalia. It has been gathered that FIFA remain committed to paying him his fully as an officiating referee in the world cup.

Additionally, he's been appointed to officiate the super cup between PSG and Aston villa in Salzburg come August 14th. That's a good win for the young referee despite his career setback of not officiating in the world cup. Congratulations to him.

I think this is very commendable of UEFA to compensate him with the super cup. It shows some Spirit of sportsmanship and recognition of the embattled referee.

What are your thoughts on UEFA's decision?

[asriloni]

It's a nice initiation by UEFA. Their deicision to let Omar Artan to referee the supercup is clearly showing how smart they are. They are seeing it as opportunity for PR purpose. Meanwhile, it's also a big win for this somalian referee. His career can easily stepping up after this. It's symbiosis mutualism for both UEFA and him.

[Frankolala]

This has shown that he's one of their own and that's why they decided to allow him officiate the Super Cup to show that they could do nothing on the US not granting him access to officiate the ongoing world regardless that he will be paid in full as a referee to officiate the world cup the US denied him from. I am happy to hear such because football should unite the world.

[swogerino]

A good consolation prize but it was completely unjust what the US has done regarding this referee, just because his nationality is from Sudan they didn't allow entry to him to do his job. The world has become a circus where many different standards are applied to different people of different backgrounds, very few good governments nowadays yet I know a lot of good people even from bad governments that are doing something, Albania, the country where I live in to be the primary example nowadays through relentless protests every day.

[Daniel91]

A nice consolation prize for Omar Artan, but I think that in his case FIFA should have given more support and requested the American authorities to grant him a visa.
In the history of the World Cup, there has never been a case like this before, where the host country of the World Cup has banned the entry of an official referee at the World Cup, and even some members of the Iranian delegation.
This sends a very bad message about the excessive politicization of the World Cup.

[_act_]

A nice consolation prize for Omar Artan, but I think that in his case FIFA should have given more support and requested the American authorities to grant him a visa.

I am very sure they are not going to listen. FIFA would have even tried to make sure the referee was not sent back home, but that is United States for you. United States was very hostile to many countries about the world cup.

In the history of the World Cup, there has never been a case like this before, where the host country of the World Cup has banned the entry of an official referee at the World Cup, and even some members of the Iranian delegation.
This sends a very bad message about the excessive politicization of the World Cup.

Yes, but we are in Trump's time. United State has been the worst country that has ever hosted world cup. There are many people from different countries that are not allowed to to visit the United States to watch the world cup.

[Dunamisx]

We all remember the referee enlisted by FIFA to officiate the world cup denied entry into the US due to suspected links to Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group operating in Somalia. It has been gathered that FIFA remain committed to paying him his fully as an officiating referee in the world cup.

Are they having any proof or evidence that shows to the world that is truly associated with any of the terrorist organizations or this was just a usual attack on other reasons again is participation and representation on the FIFA world cup, if FIFA could granted in this great opportunity then I don't think the US government has all it takes to make decision of denying him entry, knowing that he is just going there to make it career and not for any other thing, while I still like the way the rules story ended in another opportunity opened up for him.

[hyudien]

It is good that FIFA compensated Omar Artan, he was appointed to referee the super cup final between PSG vs Aston Villa, but also with this also illustrates FIFA cannot do anything about the US treatment of this referee, which is also a bit disappointing because Omar Artan has officially had a FIFA license. Let's hope his refereeing career remains good and maybe even better.

[Sandra_hakeem]

We all remember the referee enlisted by FIFA to officiate the world cup denied entry into the US due to suspected links to Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group operating in Somalia. It has been gathered that FIFA remain committed to paying him his fully as an officiating referee in the world cup.

Interesting! So all he has to do now is sit home and watch from his TV, while the paycheck gets processed. He literally is getting paid for being a spectator--- it's not a better compensation afaik. His career would have surpassed the National games if this were possible.

Additionally, he's been appointed to officiate the super cup between PSG and Aston villa in Salzburg come August 14th. That's a good win for the young referee despite his career setback of not officiating in the world cup. Congratulations to him.

I think this is very commendable of UEFA to compensate him with the super cup. It shows some Spirit of sportsmanship and recognition of the embattled referee.

It's the best they can do, since their hands are tied. That's supposedly another man's country, the Americans so Trump decides on who is staying or not. It's good to know that FIFA didn't abandon him like the states did.

[JeffBrad12]

It is good that FIFA compensated Omar Artan, he was appointed to referee the super cup final between PSG vs Aston Villa, but also with this also illustrates FIFA cannot do anything about the US treatment of this referee, which is also a bit disappointing because Omar Artan has officially had a FIFA license. Let's hope his refereeing career remains good and maybe even better.

A small correction is needed in your post. It's UEFA who awarded him a chance to refereeing the Super Cup. FIFA has nothing to do with this decision. Apart from that FIFA will only compensate him to pay all of his tournament fees.