Qatar, hosts of the FIFA 2022 World Cup, has been named to stage four key referee workshops early next year, it has emerged. Hany Ballan Safar, the Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, said the four courses will be attended by dozens of officials from around the world in late January and for most part of February. Ballan, who is also the Chairman of the Qatar Football Federation’s (QFA) Referees Committee, was talking to media along with Naji Al Juwaini, Executive Director of the Referees Department. Ballan (photo) said: “FIFA’s choice of Qatar for such a number of sessions clearly reflects FIFA’s confidence in Qatar and the strong relationship between them, especially with respect to the development of referees worldwide.”
The first workshop will be held from January 30 to February 2 with attendance of more than 100 officials.
The second workshop will be held with 37 referees featuring in it from February 5 to 9. The second session will see FIFA announcing the final list of referees and video officials who will take charge of 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.
The third round of courses - February 12 to 16 - will see the attendance of female referees (80 in total) who will managed matches at the 2019 Women’s World Cup to be held in France.
Ballan said the fourth workshop will be held from February 19 to 22 that will bring together more than 100 instructors.
“World governing body FIFA will bear all financial costs in all respects of the said courses,” Ballan informed. “The role of the QFA is to provide logistical support,” he said. Al Juwaini said that it is the first time in the history of FIFA that a single host country has been accorded four workshops within such a short span of time. “This is a moment of pride for QFA as we continue to develop referees in the country and around the region as well as the Asian continent,” Al Juwaini said. “However, I would like to add that it won’t be the first time that Qatar will be hosting FIFA referees refresher courses or workshops. QFA’s relationship with FIFA on how to develop the field of refereeing started long back. Qatar hosted training courses for the referees of the 2014 FIFA World Cup that was held in Brazil,” he said. “We are honoured that FIFA has entrusted QFA with such important meetings. QFA will ensure that everything runs smoothly,” Al Juwaini said. “From our side, QFA have completed all preparations as we look forward to hosting four key meetings set to be attended by dozens of participants,” he said. He pointed out that the Qatari referees will benefit from the training sessions as attending such meetings give insight to the fast-developing world of refereeing,” he said. Al Juwaini thanked QFA President HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani for his ‘great support to the referees committee which was one of the reasons why Qatar is set to host these courses. I would also like to thank the Qatar Sports Club, which will host the training of participants in the courses, as well as the ASPETAR and the Aspire Academy,” Al Juwaini said.
