His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth, paid a visit to the Elite Referees Winter Camp, currently being held at the Hilton Doha Hotel, in the presence of Hani Taleb Ballan, Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Qatar Football Association.

During the visit, His Excellency closely followed the latest developments related to the referees’ work and checked on their physical and technical readiness ahead of the resumption of local competitions. He also reviewed the camp’s program and objectives.

In his meeting with the referees, the Minister of Sports and Youth stressed the importance of the role they play on the field, affirming that it gives him great pride when referees reflect the true image of Qatari football in general, and Qatari refereeing in particular, by delivering the required standards in local competitions and international assignments.

He also expressed his full support for the referees, emphasizing his deep appreciation for their role, and urged them to continue working diligently and exerting maximum effort to consistently deliver an even higher refereeing standard in all competitions, whether domestic or international. He encouraged them not to be affected by pressure, noting that Qatari referees are now accustomed to such challenges. As evidence, he highlighted the strong performance shown by the Qatari refereeing crew that recently officiated matches in the Arab Cup, amid large crowds and a high technical level—an outcome of the collective efforts of the entire refereeing system.

His Excellency stated that the Qatari referee project is one of the most successful initiatives in Qatari football. He noted that until around 2003, the percentage of Qatari referees officiating local matches did not exceed 5%, whereas today it has reached 100%. The presence of foreign referees, he explained, comes within the framework of an exchange-of-expertise program, not due to any shortcomings in Qatari refereeing.

The Minister extended his thanks to all those involved in refereeing, foremost among them Hani Taleb Ballan, Chairman of the Referees Committee, Valentin Ivanov, the technical expert, as well as all committee members, lecturers, and trainers, for their efforts in preparing referees and advancing the refereeing system as a whole.

For his part, Hani Taleb Ballan praised the Minister’s visit, affirming that His Excellency is the greatest supporter of referees, as he fully understands the importance of the system. He noted that the Minister recently allocated additional pitches for referee training, adding to his record of continuous support for the refereeing system and Qatari referees.

He confirmed that the Minister’s visit to the camp represents significant moral support for the referees and motivates them to continue working hard and striving to always live up to expectations.

At the conclusion of the visit, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani was keen to take a commemorative group photo with the referees participating in the camp, a gesture reflecting his appreciation for their efforts and underscoring the ongoing support enjoyed by Qatari refereeing.

It is worth noting that the camp features a comprehensive program aimed at preparing referees at all levels. The morning sessions include specialized theoretical lectures on the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game, decision-making mechanisms, and match management, in addition to discussions of various refereeing cases. The evening sessions are dedicated to intensive physical training and practical on-field applications.