The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Referees Committee has announced the refereeing teams that will officiate the four postponed matches from the tenth round of the 2023-2024 Saudi Professional League. This announcement reveals the committee's dual strategy: placing trust in local referees for three important matches, while utilizing international expertise for the most sensitive encounter, the Eastern Province derby between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ettifaq.
General context and development of refereeing in the Saudi League
The move to use foreign referees in major matches is part of a long-standing policy adopted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. This policy aims to raise the standard of refereeing and ensure the highest levels of impartiality and integrity in high-profile and competitive matches, thus reducing pressure on local referees and helping to calm the often tense atmosphere surrounding these games. Over the past seasons, Saudi stadiums have witnessed the presence of elite referees from around the world, reflecting the Saudi League's ambition to solidify its position as one of the world's leading leagues, not only by attracting international stars but also by implementing the best international standards in all aspects of the game, including refereeing.
The importance of the matches and their expected impact
The Eastern Province derby between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ettifaq carries special significance that transcends the three points at stake. It represents a battle for regional football supremacy and attracts a massive following. Therefore, assigning the match to a Mexican refereeing team led by veteran international referee César Ramos, who has officiated at the World Cup, is a strategic decision aimed at ensuring a smooth encounter and avoiding controversial refereeing errors. On the other hand, assigning Saudi referees to officiate matches involving major clubs like Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab sends a message of confidence in the capabilities of local referees and their ability to handle pressure. This balance between foreign expertise and national competence serves the long-term goals of developing Saudi refereeing, as local referees gain valuable experience by officiating competitive matches.
Details of referee assignments for the postponed round
According to the committee's decision, the assignments were as follows:
- Al-Ahli vs. Damac match: At Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha, the match will be officiated by a Saudi refereeing team led by Faisal Al-Balawi, assisted by Faisal Al-Qahtani and Ibrahim Al-Dakhil, while Mohammed Al-Harbi will be the fourth official, and Abdullah Al-Harbi will be in charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
- Al-Qadisiyah vs. Al-Ettifaq (Eastern Province Derby): At Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, a Mexican refereeing team led by Cesar Ramos, assisted by Alberto Morin and Marco Besguera, was assigned, while Adonai Escobedo took charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room.
- The Al-Shabab vs. Al-Riyadh match: At the “STC Arena” stadium in Riyadh, the match will be officiated by referee Sultan Al-Harbi, assisted by Abdulrahim Al-Shammari and Mohammed Al-Murshid, with Mohammed Al-Howaish supervising the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
- The Al-Fateh vs. Al-Akhdoud match: At the “First Finance Field” stadium in Al-Ahsa, the match will be officiated by referee Ali Al-Qahtani, assisted by Ahmed Al-Ateeq and Abdullah Al-Ajeem, while Mohammed Al-Ghamdi will be the referee for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
All matches are scheduled to kick off simultaneously at 10 pm, in a busy evening of football that could bring significant changes to the league standings.
