The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s resolve to strengthen its position as a model confederation in developing world-class match officials was further underlined with the launch of the Refereeing Online Platform, in conjunction with the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. The latest milestone initiative equips Referee Assessors with a diverse array of tools, paving the way for a holistic enhancement of officiating standards in Asian football, whilst serving as a centralised platform for assessors to complete and submit their Referee Assessment Reports to ensure the highest professional standards. Live tested with the help of selected experts of the industry during the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group Stage matches, a key feature of this initiative is the availability of full match videos which will allow the referee assessor to create incident clips and develop teaching material seamlessly within the platform. Aimed at thorough tracking of referees’ performances, the platform will also grant access to the Refereeing Directors of the AFC’s Member Associations, allowing them to track their match officials’ performances, reiterating the confederation’s commitment to ensure world-class standards of Asian refereeing.
Complementing the Refereeing Online Platform is the revamped Referee Assessment Report, which has been refurbished after careful consultation with some of the most renowned refereeing experts on the continent. The newly upgraded system strives to establish a fairer grading mechanism, to ensure that Match Officials receive a more accurate evaluation reflecting their overall performance on the pitch. The system was fine-tuned through offline tests conducted during the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023, which provided valuable insights and aided in refining it before being integrated with the new online platform. With the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 also witnessing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system making its full debut, following its successful implementation from the quarter-final stage in 2019, as well as the introduction of the Semi-Automated Offside Technology, the Refereeing Online Platform and the upgraded Referee Assessment Report once again underscores the AFC's commitment to ensure its match officials are in the best possible environment to succeed on the ultimate Asian football stage.
Source: AFC