Doha: The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 referees' preparation course culminated on Sunday, November 30th, following five intensive days of training. Held under the supervision of Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Hani Taleb Ballan, the Committee's Vice-Chairman, and Massimo Busacca, Director of the FIFA Refereeing Department, the program involved 54 match officials. This group comprised 14 main referees, 28 assistant referees, and 12 Video Assistant Referees (VAR).

The course focused heavily on the technical and physical aspects of officiating. Key discussion points included prominent refereeing scenarios, practical applications of VAR technology, and training on a new rule specific to the tournament. This regulation mandates the temporary two-minute removal of injured players for treatment, with exceptions for goalkeepers and situations where the opposing player receives a yellow or red card.

In his address, Pierluigi Collina emphasized the critical importance of referee readiness for the tournament's matches. He praised Qatar's exceptional organization and the significant efforts dedicated to preparing officiating cadres to the highest standard.

For his part, Hani Taleb Ballan expressed pride in hosting the course, affirming that refereeing would be a cornerstone of the Arab Cup's success. He credited the close cooperation with FIFA and the dedicated efforts invested in referee development.

Massimo Busacca commended the seriousness and discipline demonstrated during the theoretical and practical workshops. He regarded the course as a vital step toward unifying refereeing decisions throughout the upcoming championship.