By Enitan Abdultawab
Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will battle for the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday, with Somali referee Omar Artan set to become the first non-European official to take charge of the prestigious fixture.
The annual encounter pits the reigning Champions League winners against the Europa League champions, with PSG seeking to become only the second team in the modern era to successfully defend the title after Real Madrid achieved the feat in 2016 and 2017.
PSG defeated Tottenham Hotspur on penalties in last year’s final.
However, Artan’s appointment has added another layer of interest to Wednesday’s game after the 34-year-old was prevented from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
