EXCLUSIVE: Keith Hackett gives his verdict on UEFA's Super Cup appointment of Omar Artan

[p]One of the traditional curtain-raisers to a season, it pits the Champions League winners against the Europa League winners, and is the first chance for either to win significant silverware.[/p][infobox id="c5ce5f5a-ccb6-468f-9fce-bb4a330c372a" /][h2]Hackett applauds UEFA[/h2][p]An interesting side note to this particular edition was the inclusion of Omar Artan as the match official.[/p][p]Just a few short weeks ago, the 34-year-old Somalian was banned from entering the United States, despite being listed as one of the referees for the World Cup, a decision that clearly rankled with former FIFA referee Keith Hackett.[/p][p][b]"I applaud UEFA and their Head of Referees, Roberto Rosseti, for their actions, inviting Omar Artan to officiate this prestigious game,"[/b] Hackett told Flashscore exclusively.[/p][p][b]"They, like myself and referees around the world, were appalled that he was denied entry to the United States and therefore ruled out of the World Cup. I was bitterly disappointed that FIFA failed in their duty to support this referee.[/b][/p][embed guid="7aa3acd4-081f-4db7-9acc-9de5fbd8219f" url="https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/2064115923569557591?lang=en" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I was also disappointed that no comments were made by the group of officials who were in their pre-World Cup training camp in Miami.[/b][/p][p][b]"Two months later, the Somali referee gets to make history as the first non-European to officiate the UEFA Super Cup. A great occasion for him and his colleagues.[/b][/p][embed guid="4cc7bd62-860d-4c32-ac03-326bc1fac5c9" url="https://x.com/UEFA/status/2087625051449209116" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It's just a pity that this game comes so quickly after the World Cup, as both teams had players who have only just returned to their clubs."[/b][/p][h2]An ability to adopt a low-key approach[/h2][p]Despite the relative quickness with which the fixture arrived, that didn't stop either side from playing on the front foot.[/p][p]When Luis Enrique and Unai Emery's teams have collided in the past, goals have been guaranteed, with the 2015 Super Cup final (5-4 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] against Sevilla after extra time) and the 2017 Champions League Round of 16 ties (4-0 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] in the first leg, 6-1 to Barcelona in the second), being perfect examples. [/p][embed guid="caa94624-0791-43c2-bcc6-1ab48e6ee669" url="https://x.com/UEFA/status/2087854277481885726" social-type="twitter" /][p]Though the match on Wednesday wasn't as high scoring, it wasn't without incident, and the officials did well to allow things to flow nicely throughout.[/p][p][b]"He (Artan) demonstrated good movement and positioning in this game, and an ability to adopt a low-key approach, which ensured that he wasn't the centre of attraction and allowed things to flow well,"[/b] Hackett continued.[/p][p][b]"The ‘big’ decisions were correct, and the players who were issued with yellow cards ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-gomes/rcOLZhUD/"]Joao Gomes[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcginn-john/rgGnzD2e/"]John McGinn[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-pau-francisco/AVUHg8JU/"]Pau Torres[/a]) can have no cause for concern."[/b][/p][h2]Officials deserve credit[/h2][p]One potential flashpoint in the game came when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doue-desire/KIUWH2Jq/"]Desire Doue[/a] appeared to have finished brilliantly after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dembele-ousmane/zsMC2Ec0/"]Ousmane Dembele[/a]'s assist had split the Villa defence wide open; however, he was quickly flagged for offside before VAR overruled the assistant referee.[/p][p][b]"The one decision that I looked carefully at was the disallowed goal for PSG in the 61st minute, as on first viewing, Desire Doue scored what appeared to be a perfectly good goal,"[/b] Hackett added.[/p][embed guid="9686c717-e597-43bc-a164-c600db04ed74" url="https://x.com/UEFA/status/2087672138069090755" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"However, we witnessed a rather hesitant offside flag from the assistant, who appeared to be unsure.[/b][/p][p][b]"VAR intervened, and the goal was correctly reinstated."[/b][/p][p]In a game that was eminently watchable, the officials deserve a great deal of credit for the manner in which they conducted themselves throughout, only intervening when absolutely necessary, and giving players the benefit of the doubt in some of the more robust challenges.[/p][h2]Football was the winner[/h2][p]When the game's biggest talking points are based on refereeing decisions, you know that there's a case to answer, so when officials remain as part of the supporting cast and not the main event, that too should be recognised, albeit positively.[/p][p][b]"When that final whistle was blown, football was the winner, and UEFA's support of this referee sent a message around the world that there was no place for politics in our great game," [/b]Hackett contended.[/p][embed guid="264041d4-1932-4c36-9e01-b7938c42490c" url="https://x.com/UEFA/status/2087651960572752300" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Referees will have been smiling that their contemporary had proved his capability and, of course, should've always been allowed to participate in the 2026 World Cup.[/b][/p][p][b]"He must now go back and continue to focus on his officiating work, to ensure his selection at the next World Cup in four years. [/b][/p][p][b]"Well done Omar Artan, and well done UEFA."[/b][/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]