Gulf Cup referees begin preparatory camp in Jeddah

Gulf Cup 27 referees' preparatory camp in progress.

JEDDAH, Sep 20: Referees selected to officiate at the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, “Gulf Cup 27,” have begun a preparatory camp in Jeddah ahead of the tournament, which Saudi Arabia will host from Sept. 23 to Oct. 6.

Gulf Football Federation Referees Committee Chairman Hani Ballan emphasized the importance of the preparatory program in ensuring that officials reach the highest level of readiness before the competition begins.

The camp features theoretical lectures, practical sessions, fitness tests, and specialized training on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. It also covers the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game, their practical application, and the review and discussion of various refereeing incidents and decisions.

Practical sessions are being held at training facilities operated by the Saudi Football Federation, with the aim of unifying refereeing interpretations and enhancing the officials’ technical and physical preparedness.

The tournament will feature international referees from Morocco, Jordan, China, the Netherlands and Portugal, alongside officials from the Gulf countries.