DOHA: The Referees Department of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) organized an in-depth analytical lecture for international and elite referees at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The session, attended by Hani Taleb Ballan, Chairman of the Referees Committee, and Valentin Ivanov, Technical Expert of the Referees Department, focused on reviewing key refereeing decisions from rounds 12, 13, and 14 of the Ooredoo Stars League. Committee members, referees, and referee evaluators were also present. The meeting began with Hani Ballan commending the outstanding performance of Qatari referees Abdulrahman Al Jassim, Salman Falahi, and Khamis Al Marri. Al Jassim and Falahi recently participated in a FIFA refereeing course in Dubai for officials nominated to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Al Marri attended a FIFA video refereeing course in Doha. Ballan praised their dedication, stating, “The FIFA recognition of our referees’ level, behavior, and commitment is a source of pride for the entire Referees Committee.” Ballan emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards as the league enters its decisive stages. “The upcoming matches are the most critical and challenging, requiring referees to exhibit focus, control, and fairness to ensure every club receives its due rights,” he said. He also urged referees to pay close attention to performance development in technical, physical, medical, and behavioral aspects. The session included a detailed analysis of controversial incidents from recent matches, with a focus on FIFA’s latest interpretations and guidelines. Key topics included offside rulings, particularly scenarios involving defenders’ misplayed passes or failed clearances that result in the ball reaching an attacker in an offside position. FIFA clarified that such actions do not constitute an offside offense if the defender deliberately played the ball, a point reinforced with examples from both the QSL and European leagues. The meeting concluded with a specialized lecture on video assistant referee (VAR) technology, delivered by international referee Khamis Al Marri. The session aimed to ensure all referees are up-to-date with FIFA’s latest updates and interpretations, equipping them to handle the high-pressure environment of the league’s decisive stages.