Doha, December 24 (QNA) – Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani praised the advanced level reached by the elite referees, stressing his continued support for the development of the Qatari refereeing system, during his visit to the winter camp for elite referees, held at the Hilton Doha Hotel.
During the visit, His Excellency was briefed on the latest developments related to the work of the referees, the camp program and its developmental goals, and he followed up on some of their technical and physical preparations, in preparation for the resumption of local championship competitions.
During his meeting with the referees, the Minister of Sports and Youth stressed the important role they play on the field, emphasizing the importance of delivering a level that reflects the positive image of Qatari refereeing locally and internationally. He expressed his pride in the outstanding performance of the Qatari team during their recent participation in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani affirmed his full support for the referees, urging them to continue their efforts and work, and to ignore the pressures, noting that the Qatari referee has acquired the necessary experience to manage matches efficiently in various circumstances.
His Excellency noted the success of the Qatari refereeing project, which has achieved a major qualitative leap. He pointed out that the percentage of Qatari referees in managing local matches has developed from only 5 percent until 2003, to 100 percent currently, while foreign referees are only used for the purpose of exchanging experiences.
