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The AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa greeted the largest-ever cast of match officials appointed to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 and offered them his encouragement and support on the eve of the Continental showpiece, emphasising the importance of their contributions.
Shaikh Salman met the 73 officials at the InterContinental Doha ahead of the opening match of the 18th edition of Asia’s crown jewel between defending champions Qatar and Lebanon at the iconic Lusail Stadium.
Among the officials were the five female referees and assistant referees who are poised to create history as the first ever women match officials to be involved at Asia’s most prestigious men’s national team competition.
“The AFC Asian Cup stands at the pinnacle of football in Asia, and only the best are here for Qatar 2023. This undoubtedly includes our stellar ensemble of match officials, among them our history-making quintet of women,” the AFC President said.
“Our match officials have cemented their status as one of the best worldwide. Their pivotal role is indispensable, as without them, there would be no tournament. As we strive together to deliver the greatest AFC Asian Cup™ ever, I have complete confidence in their ability to demonstrate the highest standards of officiating.”
Confirmed in September 2023, the contingent of match officials for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, scheduled to be held from January 12 to February 10, 2024 across nine world-class venues, comprises a total of 34 referees and 39 assistant referees – including standby nominees for each position – from 18 Member Associations.
A five-day Referees Seminar was held in October as part of preparations, which focused on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology – set to make its full debut in Qatar following its successful implementation from the Quarter-final stage in the 2019 edition in the United Arab Emirates.
All 51 matches at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 will also see VAR complemented by the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) system – the first time that SAOT will be in place at an AFC competition, making the AFC the first Confederation in world football to apply the system at the Continental Men’s national team level.
