DOHA : Qatar Football Association (QFA) Referees Committee chairman and FIFA Referees Committee vice chairman Hani Taleb Ballan on Monday inaugurated the FIFA Seminar for Elite Women Referees in Doha, with participants from Asia, Africa and Oceania.
The seminar, which runs from Feb. 9 to 13, brings together 16 women referees — seven from Asia, eight from Africa and one from Oceania — as part of FIFA’s programme to develop women’s refereeing at the highest level.
The opening ceremony was attended virtually by FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina, alongside FIFA refereeing officials.
Welcoming the participants, Ballan said Doha was proud to host the seminar, describing it as a reflection of FIFA’s commitment to advancing women’s refereeing and enhancing technical and physical standards.
He said the programme includes specialised theoretical lectures, discussion sessions, medical and physical tests, as well as on-field practical applications involving players to maximise technical benefit. Eight friendly matches will also be held, during which referees’ performances will be comprehensively evaluated as part of their preparation for future international assignments.
Ballan added that the seminar represents an important step in preparing elite women referees in line with FIFA’s strategy to qualify refereeing cadres according to the highest international standards.
Collina praised the facilities provided by the QFA, saying Doha’s organisational and technical capabilities contribute significantly to the success of specialised refereeing seminars. He wished the participants success and said he expected the outcomes to be reflected in the standard of women’s refereeing at upcoming international competitions.
The seminar is one of three FIFA refereeing events hosted by Qatar in February. A FIFA seminar for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials from the Asian and African confederations was held earlier this month from Feb. 3 to 5.
Qatar’s hosting of the successive seminars underlines FIFA’s confidence in the country’s organisational capabilities and highlights the close cooperation between FIFA and the QFA in developing refereeing at regional and international levels.
