The Somalia referee who was denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup has been selected to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, the European governing body announced on Thursday.
Omar Artan, 34, was due to referee at this summer’s tournament in North America but was barred from entering the U.S. at Miami International Airport on Saturday.
The Trump administration claimed he had “association with suspected members of terror organizations”.
Artan had been one of 52 match officials chosen by FIFA, world football’s governing body, for the tournament but was returned to Istanbul by U.S. border officials before travelling back to Somalia — where he has received a hero’s welcome.
UEFA, however, has now picked Artan to referee the Super Cup between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa in August. The game, which effectively kicks off the European football season, takes place on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
UEFA’s release announcing the news described Artan as “one of the world’s top referees” and acknowledged that he “could not participate as he was not allowed to enter the United States”.