Spanning five days, the course brought together 22 refereeing technical instructors from 15 Member Associations (MAs), as well as eight refereeing fitness instructors from six MAs who participated in multiple activities designed to enhance officiating standards across the Continent.

Spanning five episodes, each focusing on a distinct aspect of refereeing at the continental showpiece, the documentary takes passionate fans of Asian football on a journey that provides a window into the mental and physical demands faced by match officials as they uphold the highest standards of officiating at the grandest edition of Asia’s crown jewel.

The eighth edition of the competition, taking place from October 16 to November 3, will witness all six officials take their places in history as they mark their debut on the global stage.

The five-day programme saw 39 referees from across the AFC’s Member Associations engage in intensive training sessions, aimed at enhancing their decision-making capabilities as well as levels of physical fitness.

Taking place from September 14 to October 6, the 2024 edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup will see the global showpiece taking place in Asia for the fourth time.

This historic appointment will see Dong become the first ever graduate from the AFC Referee Academy to take charge of a match at a FIFA competition, further underlining the Confederation’s commitment towards maximising the potential of its Member Associations and Regional Associations.

Taking place from August 19 to 23, the highly anticipated programme was attended by 23 match officials from across the length and breadth of the Continent.

Attended by 78 women match officials from across Asia, the four-day course provided the participants with the opportunity to further enhance their skills ahead of the 2024/25 season through a number of theoretical and practical exercises.

Taking place from July 29 to August 2, the seminar proved to be an excellent platform for the 53 match officials in attendance to enhance their skills and update their existing knowledge.

At the outset, Chairperson Hany Taleb B S Al-Raeesi acknowledged the consistent rise of Asian refereeing in the global context, noting the continued appointment of the Continent’s match officials on the world’s biggest stages.

Taking place in a physical setting for the first time in five years, the acclaimed workshop was attended by 45 Referee Directors and representatives from the AFC’s MAs.

Taking place in a physical setting for the first time since 2018, two seminars were held simultaneously in Bangkok, Thailand for participants from the East, ASEAN and South regions, and for officials hailing from the West and Central zones, the programme was hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The AFC will undertake a detailed review of the refereeing decisions and overall performance of the referees. Any potential errors or areas of concern will be addressed in line with the regulations and protocols for referee assessment and performance improvement established by the AFC Referees Committee.