Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Dubai: Seven referee trios from the AFC shortlisted for potential 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil officiating started a training seminar organised by FIFA in the UAE on Monday.
A total of 27 participants from 13 countries, divided into nine different trios, are currently being put through their paces until Thursday. The other two trios are from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
The opening ceremony was attended by FIFA Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca who is supervising the seminar, AFC Referees Director Yoshimi Ogawa and UAE FA Director of Referees Ahmed Yacoob.
The seminar started with fitness training at Dubai Police Club stadium while on Tuesday, fitness tests for the referees and assistant referees were conducted. The programme will also include educational lectures and applied training with the participation of football players.
In his opening remark, Busacca thanked the UAE FA for hosting the event and welcomed the participating referees.
“Just 15 months before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, we are looking for good preparations,” he was quoted as saying by fifa.com.
“We are working and preparing exactly like football teams. We are currently going through qualifiers and we don’t know who will be in the final line-up for the World Cup.”
The former international referee gave an explanation for the programme which also includes modules on protecting players and the image of the game and fair play, ensuring consistency and uniformity with regards to decision making, reading the game’s technical and tactical approach and understanding the different mentalities of football.
Photo: fifa.com