In a historic move reflecting the prestigious standing of Saudi referees on the continental stage, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has appointed an all-Saudi refereeing team, led by international referee Faisal Al-Balawi, to officiate the highly anticipated final match of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. The Saudi team will manage the decisive encounter between China and Japan next Saturday evening at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
The Saudi refereeing team, in addition to Al-Balawi, includes assistant referees Faisal Al-Qahtani and Ibrahim Al-Dakhil, while the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) role has been assigned to international referee Abdullah Al-Shehri. This prestigious selection is a culmination of the significant efforts made by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and its Referees Committee to develop national refereeing talent, and reflects the Asian Football Confederation's absolute confidence in the competence and ability of Saudi referees to officiate the most important and sensitive matches.
Background and context of development in Saudi arbitration
This achievement didn't come about by chance; it's the result of a long-term strategy adopted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation aimed at raising the level of local refereeing to international standards. This strategy included intensive development programs such as "Future Referees," sending promising referees to specialized academies like the AFC Referees Academy, providing them with the latest training technologies, and giving them the opportunity to gain experience from top international experts. This investment has contributed to developing a new generation of referees capable of competing and excelling on the international stage.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Officiating a continental final is of paramount importance, not only as a recognition of the selected team's competence but also as a way to place Saudi refereeing as a whole under the global spotlight. This selection enhances the Kingdom's reputation as a rising sporting power, especially as it prepares to host major international tournaments such as the 2034 World Cup. Having a Saudi referee in a final of this magnitude sends a powerful message: the Kingdom is not only investing in attracting world-class players and coaches but is also working diligently to develop all aspects of the football system, including refereeing, to ensure successful organization and fair competition on its soil.
A distinguished career for referee Faisal Al-Balawi
Faisal Al-Balawi, 37, is a shining example of Saudi refereeing success, being the first Saudi referee to officiate an Asian Cup final at the national team level. His career began with the "Future Referees" program, and he graduated from the AFC Referees Academy in 2017. He received his FIFA international badge in 2019 and joined the AFC Elite Referees Committee in 2022, opening doors for him to officiate important matches in the AFC Champions League and other continental tournaments, culminating in his selection as a referee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
For his part, the President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al-Mishal, expressed his pride in this selection, wishing the team success in their mission to present an honorable image of Saudi refereeing, and praising the tireless work carried out by the Referees Committee, which resulted in this distinguished international presence.
