Practical applications of VAR for our referees in the fifth stage

The referees of the Bahrain Football Association will begin the fifth stage of the VAR technology application course, which will be held on the external stadiums affiliated with the association during the period from June 25 to 30, 2024.

The course will be held under the supervision of the Saudi Football Association.

The fifth stage is a continuation of the previous four stages, and the referees will conduct simulations and practical applications of the technology on the field at a rate of 10 minutes of application for each referee on the participating players, and with the presence of the VAR transport vehicle affiliated with the Saudi Federation.

This course is considered before the sixth stage, which will witness practical applications at a specific time, then the final stage, which includes an application on a full match under the supervision of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

The course is supervised by the distinguished Saudi international lecturer Ali Al-Tarifi, and the two Saudi lecturers Abdul Mohsen Al-Zuwaid and Turki Al-Khudair will lecture in the fifth stage.

The Secretary-General of the Bahrain Football Association, Rashid Al-Zaabi, said that the referees’ arrival to the fifth stage comes as a continuation of a series of steps implemented by the association towards activating the technology in our Bahraini stadiums, based on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the General Sports Authority and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, to provide and operate the VAR technology in our football stadiums, praising the support of the General Sports Authority in this regard.

Al-Zaabi confirmed that the executive management is proceeding according to a specific plan to activate the technology by implementing the directives of the Board of Directors headed by the President of the Federation and Da’ees Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and his deputy His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa, in paying attention to the various stages until the referees obtain the license.

Al-Zaabi noted the presence of an elite group of lecturers to present the course.

At the end of his statement, Al-Zaabi expressed his thanks for the efforts made by the Saudi Football Association in cooperation with the Bahraini Federation, towards activating the technology and providing intensive courses for our referees in this regard.