Hani Blan, Chairman of the Referee Committee of the Qatar Football Association and Chairman of the Asian Football Confederation's Referee Committee, opened the elite referee seminar for West Asia, which is being held at the InterContinental Hotel in Doha and will continue until July 25th, with the participation of 85 elite referees and assistant video referees.

This seminar comes within the close cooperation between the Asian Football Confederation and the Qatar Football Association, as part of the annual program to develop the capabilities of referees and improve the level of officiating in West Asia, and to prepare referees technically for upcoming tournaments and competitions organized by the Asian Football Confederation.

The "Elite Referee Training Seminar" aims to enhance the efficiency of elite referees in West Asia, discuss the key updates in arbitration laws issued by the International Federation, and analyze arbitration cases from various continental competitions, with the goal of continuous development through in-depth case analysis in focused discussion sessions, and to harmonize arbitration concepts and decisions, while emphasizing a clear understanding of the interpretation of the laws. It also aims to develop the technical, physical, and mental performance of referees in preparation for upcoming competitions.

In his opening speech, Hani Blan emphasized the importance of the conference in terms of the topics it covers, including amendments to the rules regarding handball, fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct, offside, as well as player management, managing situations and movements on the field, fouls in the penalty area, and the modern approach to refereeing, while keeping pace with the latest developments in football.

He also pointed out that these themes aim to improve the efficiency of referees and link theoretical knowledge with practical application, while emphasizing the need to maintain the reputation of Asian refereeing through maximum effort and proper preparation for continental competitions.

He also noted that a parallel conference is being held in South Korea for Asian leaders, which reflects the Asian Football Confederation's commitment to improving the competence of all its leaders in the region. He praised the Qatari Football Federation for providing all the necessary facilities and logistical support to make the conference a success, emphasizing that Doha's advanced sports infrastructure has made it a distinguished sports and officiating center in Asia.

Scientific lectures are held at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium at the Al Duhail Club, which provides an ideal environment for practical training thanks to its modern facilities and air conditioning.

The seminar, since its inception, included specialized theoretical lectures and practical field training using players to simulate match situations, as well as training on the use of the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology. This was based on the premise that referees use technology to enhance preparedness in various conditions.

In conclusion, Blan called on all participating judges to make the most of the conference and deliver a performance worthy of the reputation of Asian officiating, while praising the confidence shown by the International Federation in recently selecting Asian referees for the Paris Olympics and assigning the final of the Club World Cup in the Americas to Asian teams. These achievements should be maintained through focus and effort in events like these.