Doha, August 08 (QNA) - The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has announced the launch of its elite referees' training camp in preparation for the new 2026-2027 football season.
In a statement, the QFA said the camp is being held at the InterContinental Doha Hotel, and will run through August 18, as part of intensive preparations for the new season and efforts to enhance the technical and physical readiness of referees in line with the requirements of domestic and international competitions.
The camp features a comprehensive programme combining theoretical and practical components. The morning sessions include a series of technical lectures covering various aspects of refereeing, along with reviews of incidents and situations that referees may encounter during matches.
In the evening, the participating referees are divided into groups for a varied training programme combining practical applications with physical conditioning.
One of the groups undertakes practical sessions at Lusail Stadium, recreating match conditions, while another group undergoes physical training at the Al Ersal pitches, focusing on developing fitness, speed and endurance.
The selection of Lusail Stadium, one of Qatar's prominent FIFA World Cup venues, provides the referees with an important opportunity to apply on the pitch the technical aspects covered during the morning lectures and to strengthen their ability to deal with different refereeing situations during matches.
Chairman of the QFA Referees Committee, Hani Taleb Ballan stressed the importance of the preparatory phase for Qatar's elite referees, describing it as one of the most important stages of the football season and emphasising the need to make the most of the camp.
"We seek to provide all the factors necessary for success for the referees and create the conditions that enable them to derive the greatest possible benefit and deliver the highest standard of refereeing," he said.
"The new season will see the introduction of competitions such as QSL 2 and QSL 3, resulting in an increase in the number of matches and greater competition among the clubs. This requires extensive work and sustained effort to meet the challenges of a long season across all competitions," he added.
The Chairman of the Referees Committee concluded by expressing his strong confidence in all the referees and their ability to deliver a successful season. (QNA)