In a historic move reflecting the rapid development of women's sports in Saudi Arabia, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has assigned an all-Saudi female refereeing team to officiate the match between Thailand and Indonesia in the ASEAN Women's Futsal Championship. This appointment is a further international testament to the competence of Saudi female referees and the growing confidence in their ability to manage important continental matches.
The Saudi refereeing team officiated the match with high efficiency, with international referee Reem Al-Bishi serving as the head referee and her colleague, international referee Reem Al-Shammari, as the second referee. This selection is a culmination of the significant efforts made by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in developing women's refereeing, which has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years.
Background and context of development
This achievement was not a coincidence, but rather the result of a clear strategy aligned with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has given special attention to empowering women in all fields, including the sports sector. Since the launch of the first official women's football league in the Kingdom in 2021 and the establishment of the national women's team, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has worked to build a comprehensive system encompassing players, coaches, and referees. Numerous training courses and specialized workshops for female referees have been organized in cooperation with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA, with the aim of refining their skills and qualifying them to obtain international badges. This has resulted in the emergence of a generation of female referees capable of representing the Kingdom in international competitions.
Importance and expected impact
This event holds multifaceted significance. Locally, it serves as a major inspiration for girls and women in Saudi Arabia, encouraging them to pursue careers in refereeing and sports in general. It also reinforces the position of Saudi women as active partners in the country's sporting renaissance. Regionally and continentally, the presence of Saudi female referees in major tournaments like the ASEAN Women's Asian Cup solidifies the Kingdom's reputation as a rising sporting power in Asia, not only through the achievements of national teams and clubs but also through its refereeing and administrative staff. Internationally, this development aligns with FIFA's efforts to increase female participation in managing football matches at the highest levels, placing Saudi women's refereeing on the global map and paving the way for future participation in more prestigious tournaments, such as the AFC Women's Asian Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup.
