Doha: The winter camp for elite referees of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) is getting underway as part of a comprehensive preparation program for intensive readiness measures currently undertaken by the referees to elevate their technical and physical preparedness ahead of the resumption of local championships and external participations.

According to Qatar News Agency, the camp, which concludes this Thursday, hosts 51 elite referees and is conducted under the supervision of a panel of experts, lecturers, and specialists in the field of refereeing. The camp curators ensured that a substantial portion of the program was dedicated to practical applications on the pitch, aiming to simulate official match environments and provide referees the opportunity to handle real-life match scenarios directly.

The training is held at the Doha Stadium and includes match management, error assessment, disciplinary case evaluation, and handling clashes inside the penalty area, in addition to correct positioning and collaboration between the center referee, assistant referees, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The practical sessions cover several key themes aligned with the latest refereeing modifications and trends, with special focus on the referee's mechanism for clear verbal announcement of decisions, one of the modern points intended to foster transparency and clarity of decisions before players, coaching staff, and spectators.

The trainings emphasize the speed and accuracy of decision-making, in addition to managing pressure during matches, especially in highly competitive encounters. Referees received immediate evaluation from the lecturers and experts after each practical application, with detailed feedback provided to correct errors and upgrade performance.