A new achievement for Saudi refereeing in the Asian continent
In a move reflecting the remarkable progress of Saudi sports, it was officially announced that Saudi international referee Raed Al-Zahrani has joined the elite list of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) referees in Asia. This achievement crowns the significant efforts and distinguished career of the young referee and strengthens the Saudi presence in continental and international sporting events, confirming the competence of national personnel in managing major football competitions.
Course details in Kuala Lumpur
Al-Zahrani's inclusion among the continent's elite referees came after his successful completion of an intensive training course organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the course focused on evaluating and qualifying international video assistant referees (VARs) according to the highest global standards set by FIFA. The course, which ran from February 2nd to 6th, included rigorous theoretical and practical tests to ensure the referees' readiness to handle complex refereeing situations requiring precise and rapid intervention from the VAR room, reflecting the AFC's stringent selection process for its referees.
Praise from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Mr. Yasser bin Hassan Al-Mishal, expressed his pride and delight in this achievement. Al-Mishal extended his sincere congratulations to international referee Raed Al-Zahrani on his inclusion in the elite list of Asian Video Assistant Referees (VARs). He emphasized that this addition adds another name to the constellation of Saudi referees ranked among the elite of Asian referees, wishing him and all his fellow referees continued success and the opportunity to present a distinguished image that reflects the development of Saudi refereeing at both the Asian and international levels.
Arbitration development strategy in Saudi Arabia
In a related context, Al-Mishal added statements highlighting the federation's strategic vision, saying, "We are working continuously and diligently to raise the level of Saudi referees and provide them with all means of support." He pointed out that Saudi referees have proven their competence and strong presence among the continent's elite referees, achieving a prominent presence and notable successes in numerous regional, continental, and international events and tournaments in the past period, reflecting the success of the adopted development plans.
The importance of VAR technology and the future of Saudi refereeing
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is considered one of the most significant advancements in the history of modern football, contributing directly to achieving fairness and reducing errors that affect match results. The presence of qualified Saudi referees using this technology at the continental level reflects the extent to which the Saudi sports system is keeping pace with the latest global developments. This achievement also aligns with the sporting objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom among the leading sporting nations, not only in terms of players and clubs, but also in terms of the refereeing and administrative personnel who manage the game with high professionalism.
