Somali referee Omar Artan has spoken for the first time about being denied entry to the United States ahead of this summer's World Cup, days before Uefa handed him the prestigious task of officiating the Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. Artan, 34 and regarded as one of Africa's leading referees, will become the first non-European official to take charge of the fixture, which pits the Champions League winners against the Europa League champions, at Salzburg's Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.

Artan was turned away at Miami international airport, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino suggesting he was powerless to intervene, as Somalia features on a US travel ban list introduced by Donald Trump's administration covering 12 countries. Describing the episode as "a very tough period" but expressing gratitude for the worldwide support he received, Artan has since prepared for the Super Cup by refereeing matches in Somalia and Kuwait, and will be assisted on the day by fellow African officials Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed of Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe of Kenya.