Match officials went through both theoretical classes and on-field training sessions to practice and simulate various match situations.
FIFA held three seminars from May 31 to June 22 to prepare 36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials from all six confederations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The three-day seminars enabled officials from each confederation to come together in Asuncion, Paraguay (CONCACAF/Conmebol), Doha, Qatar (AFC/OFC/CAF), and Madrid, Spain (UEFA), led by Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, and Massimo Busacca, FIFA’s Director of Refereeing. The match officials were put to the test in both theoretical classes and on-the-field training sessions each day, allowing the officials to simulate and practice various live-match situations.
Speaking about the selection, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie said: “When I received the invitation for the World Cup, that I had been selected with my team, this was an unbelievable feeling. For me, it’s a dream come true, really. When I started as a referee, I was 12 years old, and my goal was already that I wanted to reach the top and I was dreaming of the World Cup. And to be here now, for me, [it gives me] goosebumps, really.”
American referee Ismael Elfath added: “For me, it’s a big privilege to finally share the field with our female colleagues, but I’m not surprised at all because I’ve worked with them over many years. For me, them being here is something that is based on quality. It was [only] a matter of time that they’d be here. I’m not surprised at all that they are with us and I’m really happy to share the field with them.”
Iranian referee Alireza Faghani stated: “The training is very important for us to just share our experience with each other and to learn from our mistakes, to improve [on] our weaknesses. It’s a good chance [to be] all together with our instructor [so] we can work on all aspects, and we [can] self-evaluate.”
Chairman of FIFA’s Referee Committee Pierluigi Collina commented: “Our objective is to prepare the referee as best as possible to avoid using technology, but technology is there to avoid that mistake [being made]. Even the best referee can [make] a mistake; he is a human being, and we know that. That’s why we’ve implemented the system, using tools that can really reduce the possibility of a human mistake that can affect the outcome of the match.”
Director of FIFA Refereeing Massimo Busacca remarked: “It’s like a football team; they have to prepare everything perfectly to arrive, also preparing very well for the most important competition we have in sports. So, here, we analyse the situation, we discuss concepts, topics and whatever really to be on the same page. Like a player who wants to win the game, or wants to score a goal, you have to understand exactly what you have to do. For us, preparation is crucial.”
French referee Stephanie Frappart noted: “We learned a lot because every game is [like] training for us. It also [means] more experience and more management with the players. So, every game, every year, we improve a lot. So, I think we will be ready for the World Cup.”
