LAHORE – “Football is a global sport and its rules must be interpreted and applied with absolute consistency, wherever the game is played. PFF therefore has devised a policy of training its referees to ensure that refereeing standards continue to improve and the laws of the game are applied the same way everywhere.”
This was stated by Pakistan Football Federation President Faisal Saleh Hayat on the eve of the two editions of PFF Grass Root Referees Course, that become part of 13th National U13 Festival of Football in the second week of February. Faisal congratulated prominent Pakistani referees for their fine work in PFF events. Shafaat Habib (Army) and Shams Pervez (Lahore) collected Best Referee and Best Assistant Referee Awards, respectively in PFF League, while Pakistan Premier League saw Jehangir Khan become Best Referee and Irshad Ul Haq Best Assistant Referee.
“The work of these officials and others would be constantly monitored. It is mandatory that each of them shows consistent high-level performances,” said Faisal, while adding that the new fitness test is designed to assess the physical fitness and mental strength of the referees.
He also congratulated Super Football League’s Most Impressive Referee Khurram Shahzad (Kohat), Rana Naseer Ahmed, Waheed Murad, Shafaat Habib, Shahid Hussain, Muhammad Ali Jr. and Rana Jehanzeb Tipu, who became FIFA Referees after the world soccer’s ruling body awarded a total of seven Referee and Assistant Referee badges to Pakistani referees.
“Referees in receipt of a FIFA badge are entitled to officiate at FIFA and AFC fixtures, both at club and international level. I hope that they will maintain their fitness level and refereeing for the rest of the year.”
