Kuala Lumpur, November 1, WAM/ The Asian Football Confederation published an extensive report on its official website on the two Emirati assistant referees, Hamad Al Hammadi and Hassan Al Mahri, who are candidates to manage the 2022 World Cup matches, and confirmed that they participate in the management of matches, as part of an Emirati team led by international Mohamed Abdullah Hassan.
The Asian said in his report: “Both Al Hammadi and Al-Mahri were selected in the World Cup in Russia four years ago, as the two Emirati referees participated in many tournaments, including the 2021 AFC Champions League final between the Saudi Al Hilal title winner and his second-placed South Korean counterpart, Pohang Steelers. The 2020 Club World Cup Final, the AFC Asian Cup Final and the 2017 AFC Cup Final.
The two Emirati referees were also appointed in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-final match between Japan and Vietnam, which was the first ever match during which the VAR system was used in the history of team championships in the Asian continent.
For his part, Assistant Referee Mohammed Al Hammadi said in his statements to the official website of the AFC: “It is a great feeling to be chosen for the largest sporting event in the world, as this comes following making a great effort, which makes years of sacrifice at work and time away from family worth it.” .
He added, “The Asian championships are very strong, and I think that the many workshops, seminars and training courses this year have been useful in developing the technical side of the rulers of the continent of Asia.”
Regarding his preparations to participate in managing matches in the World Cup, he said: “I focused on physical preparation, reading the new laws of the game and their amendments, watching controversial cases in the game around the world, and benefiting from learning points.”
Al Hammadi continued: “I am proud to be part of the Asian Football Confederation, which worked through a distinguished group of distinguished lecturers and coaches to prepare referees who have proven themselves as the best match referees in the world of refereeing.
And regarding the advice he can give to the new stadium judges, he said: “The most important advice is regarding paying attention to the laws of the game, and listening to the distinguished group of distinguished AFC lecturers.”
For his part, assistant international referee Hassan Al-Mahri expressed his happiness to participate in the management of matches in the 2022 World Cup, saying: “It is a great feeling to represent my country and the Asian Football Confederation in the largest football event in the world.”
He continued, “This is the result of years of effort that culminated first by participating in refereeing during the World Cup in Russia four years ago, and now once more in the 2022 World Cup.”
He added: “For years, the Asian Football Confederation has worked hard to raise the efficiency of Asian referees in every way, and this success is due to the steady development of referees, and I expect the pursuit of excellence to continue, but it requires diligent work and a great effort from the referees themselves as well.”
He stressed that the preparations did not start with announcing the list of referees, but rather through a long journey over the past years, and the experience gained in Asian, international and local championships, as it includes preparation at the physical, mental, psychological and technical levels to ensure that Asia is represented well in this most important football event.
Al-Mahri praised the programs of the Continental Confederation, saying: “The AFC supports its referees in all areas to achieve excellence. They do this by constantly informing match officials regarding the laws of the game and its applications, in addition to providing the best technologies to assist referees, including conducting video technology courses. Assistant and also provide logistical support to ensure that the task is performed in the best possible way.
