Iraqi Federation Strengthens Refereeing with Portuguese Expert to Develop VAR Technology

Sabah Qasim, a member of the Iraqi Football Federation, confirmed that the contract with the Portuguese refereeing expert Pereira is part of a comprehensive plan to develop the level of Iraqi referees, enhance their technical and physical abilities, and strengthen their expertise in match management, particularly in the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Qasim explained that the goal of this move is to benefit from the experience of the European refereeing school, especially the Portuguese, which has made significant progress in this field. He added that the expert will be responsible for supervising the nomination of referees for matches and tournaments, monitoring league competitions, and organizing training courses and internal camps. He pointed out that the development program will not be limited to theoretical lectures and analysis of refereeing cases but will include physical fitness training and supervision of referees' training, alongside specialized lectures on VAR technology, aiming to enhance expertise and address areas needing improvement. Pereira will also hold regular meetings with the referees committee and Iraqi referees, continuously monitoring their performance and levels in preparation for selecting refereeing teams for matches and tournaments. The federation has granted young referees more opportunities to officiate matches since the start of the current league season. Regarding referees' dues, Qasim affirmed that the federation continues to support the refereeing system by paying professional referees' fees and providing necessary equipment, with plans to settle dues for premier league and futsal referees and to clear part of previous debts in the upcoming phase. The agreement with the Portuguese expert spans six months until the end of the season, with a comprehensive evaluation planned to assess the benefits of the experience and the possibility of its continuation. He noted that Iraqi referees continue to officiate matches in Asian, Gulf, and international tournaments, emphasizing the federation's efforts to develop their capabilities and prepare qualified referees to reach the upcoming World Cup finals.