DOHA: The group of referees who will manage matches at 2022 FIFA World Cup have attended a FIFA Referees Workshop in Doha.

The workshop lasted for five days (Nov 1-5)

Massimo Busacca, Executive Director of the FIFA Referees Department, Hani Ballan, Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Vice-Chairman of the Referees Committee of FIFA, Naji Al-Juwaini, Executive Director of the QFA Referees Committee, featured in the workshop.

Qatar referees Abdul Rahman Al Jassim and Talib Salem Al Marri also took part in the workshop.

The five-day workshop achieved significant success. The Intercontinental Hotel Doha hosted the theoretical aspects of the workshop whereas Qatar University conducted on-field sessions.

Ballan concluded the workshop with a speech in which he thanked FIFA for “exhibiting great confidence in Qatar”.

“It makes us proud that FIFA considers Qatar an important partner in the game’s development. Hosting this large group of referees is an important step in Qatar’s journey towards staging the World Cup next year,” Ballan said.

“The referees participating in this workshop achieved remarkable distinction and their performance should be commended. FIFA always seeks to develop football around the world and refereeing is one of its main pillars,” he added.

Busacca, in his closing remarks, said: “I take this opportunity to thank Qatar Football Association for their hospitality and top quality of organization.”

He added: “I have to say that referees must lean on hard work in order to maintain success and constantly develop themselves. There is no doubt that this workshop reflected on the ground the importance of hard work, whether in physical or theoretical training, in order to achieve the highest levels of success.”

Earlier Doha played host to a six-day FIFA Women’s Referees Workshop (Oct 24-29). The workshop featured referees nominated to officiate matches at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in New Zealand and Australia.