GENEVA (AP) — Somali referee Omar Altan Banned from the World Cup by the United States, he was selected on Thursday for the feature match of August’s UEFA Super Cup.
European soccer body UEFA announced that Artan will be the referee for the match on August 12th. Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa. The match will take place in Salzburg, Austria.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement: “Football is created to bring people together and UEFA would like to pay tribute to Mr. Omar and his outstanding refereeing skills.”
Artan is We welcome our heroes back to Somalia Despite being selected by FIFA for World Cup duty, Wednesday came days after he was refused entry into the country in Miami and was interrogated for 11 hours by U.S. authorities. He was sent back on a plane to Turkey.
U.S. officials have claimed Mr. Artan has ties to terrorist organizations, but have offered no evidence.
Artan’s treatment has raised concerns about U.S. immigration policy during the World Cup. criticized by the United Nations said a senior human rights official on Wednesday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday that he was powerless to stop Altan’s ordeal and said: “We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule the government and the police.”
The 34-year-old referee was rated as Africa’s best last season and took charge of a decisive match in the continent’s Champions League final last month.
Ceferin said UEFA worked on the plan in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football and its president Patrice Motsepe. Ceferin and Motsepe both serve as FIFA vice presidents.
“Omar Altan has given immense pride to the people of Somalia and the entire African continent,” Motsepe said in a UEFA statement.
“This is a great honor for Omar Altan and the African referees, and a great example of football bringing together and uniting people in Africa, Europe and the world,” Motsepe said hours before his native South Africa opened the World Cup against co-hosts Mexico. They play at the famous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
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