AFC launches innovative Refereeing STAR Programme

Tue, 30 Nov, -0001

AFC launches innovative Refereeing STAR Programme

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today reinforced its commitment towards building on and maintaining the high standards of match officials on the Continent by launching the AFC Refereeing STAR Programme – a remote education initiative that provides Member Associations (MAs) with exclusive and customisable refereeing resources.

Available to all 47 AFC MAs, the AFC Refereeing STAR Programme aims to provide match officials with a range of unique courses to be delivered online, which will enable the AFC to enhance the delivery of its education programmes by embracing the latest technological advances.

History-making Yamashita revels in refereeing responsibility 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

History-making Yamashita revels in refereeing responsibility 

Tokyo: History was made when Yoshimi Yamashita, alongside Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi, took charge of a group match between Myanmar's Yangon United and Cambodia's Naga World in the 2019 AFC Cup. It marked the first time that an all-female team officiated a continental men's match in Asia. The game ended in 2-0 in hosts Yangon's favour but the fixture had a greater resonance than simply the scoreline.

"I felt greater pressure than usual ahead of the match," the 34-year-old told FIFA.com. "I was honoured to be tasked with officiating this match, but I was also aware that I had the responsibility to try my best and do the job well. It was a game which opened a new path for female referees.

"I had a feeling that this match might be significant for the future of female referees," continued Yamashita. "All that I needed to do was concentrate on my work in the match. I was grateful for the decision made by AFC as well as all those who worked hard to make this happen."

Q&A with Hany Taleb Ballan Al Raeesi 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Q&A with Hany Taleb Ballan Al Raeesi 

Doha: No football player, club or association emerged from 2020 without feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Asia’s elite referees have also been forced to adapt to what quickly became the new normal.

From their own domestic competitions to the AFC Champions League, the Continent’s match officials have shown diligence and professionalism and played a key role in keeping the game alive during the most difficult of circumstances.

During the closing stages of the ongoing AFC Champions League in Doha, AFC Referees Committee Deputy Chairperson, Hany Taleb Ballan Al Raeesi joined us to share his thoughts on the competition, VAR and how Asia’s refereeing fraternity has navigated a year of unprecedented challenges.

AFC Referees Committee underlines continued support to Asia’s match officials

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Referees Committee underlines continued support to Asia’s match officials

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referees Committee praised the progress of Asian refereeing and reinforced its commitment to ensure the continued development of AFC match officials at its second meeting today.

In a virtual meeting, chaired by His Excellency (HE) Du Zhaocai, the AFC Referees Committee hailed the successful implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, which marked its debut in the AFC Club Competitions from the Quarter-final stage of the 2020 AFC Champions League (West) in September.

Kamnueng: I want an Asian female to officiate in a FIFA World Cup

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kamnueng: I want an Asian female to officiate in a FIFA World Cup

Kuala Lumpur: When Pannipar Kamnueng was appointed Thailand FA’s Director of Referees Department in 2016, she became the world's first female to hold such a position in a national association.

The appointment was a testament to her pedigree as a top-quality former international referee having officiated matches in a series of FIFA women's tournaments. Successful as she was, however, Kamnueng quickly became aware of the added layer of challenges she would face.

Brave Cui’s passion for refereeing undiminished by serious health scare

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Brave Cui’s passion for refereeing undiminished by serious health scare

Beijing: Cui Yongmei has proved there is nothing in this world which can deprive her of the love for refereeing. Not even a life-threatening event.

One of the best regarded female referees China PR has ever seen, Cui was announced to join the match officials’ team for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France. Just as she was working against the clock to prepare herself for her second women's football extravaganza - she worked as an assistant referee at Canada 2015 – Cui was urgently taken to hospital at the start of last year after an unexpected heart attack.

Match Officials in Asia benefit from the AFC online Academy modules

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Match Officials in Asia benefit from the AFC online Academy modules

Kuala Lumpur: To minimise the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched a series of online Referee Academy modules to strengthen and improve the knowledge of Asian referees.

In this new initiative organised by the AFC Referees Department, the academy modules were designed with two sessions for Batches from the year’s 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.

A total of 34 referees participated in the Batch 2017 programme which focused on both technical topics, such as the amendments to the Laws of The Game 2020/2021, and Video Assistant Referees (VAR) Protocols & Practicalities.