Athletes described the cost of hiring a foreign refereeing team for a single match in the ADNOC Professional League as large and exaggerated, which doubles the financial burdens on clubs, despite the fact that hiring a “foreign whistle” is not mandatory but rather optional, based on the club’s desire. They pointed out that despite the large financial cost, the presence of the “foreign whistle” in the league is a positive phenomenon present in all stadiums around the world, and that local stadium judges have benefited from the expertise of foreign referees, given their extensive refereeing experience. Meanwhile, others criticized the presence of the “foreign whistle,” calling for a review of this experience and its evaluation, considering that the presence of a foreign referee will negatively affect local refereeing.
The cost of bringing in a foreign refereeing team for a single match is 170,000 dirhams, compared to only 20,000 dirhams for a local refereeing team for a single match. It is worth noting that the presence of local field referees in managing matches does not impose any financial burdens on the clubs, because the Football Association is the one that pays the cost of referees managing matches, in coordination with the Professional League Association.
According to statistics monitored by “Emirates Today”, the past three seasons in the league, in addition to the first three rounds of the current season of the league, witnessed the clubs attracting 30 foreign refereeing crews, as the total cost of these referees amounted to five million and 100 thousand dirhams, while the cost would have amounted to only 600 thousand dirhams if local refereeing crews were used.
The athletes told Al-Emarat Al-Youm: “Despite the high financial cost borne by the clubs that attract the ‘foreign whistle’, their presence reduces the pressure on the local referee, especially during big and sensitive matches.”
high financial cost
Former international football referee Abdullah Al-Ajil described the experience of using the “foreign whistle” during the past three seasons in the league as successful, both in terms of attracting experienced referees, and in terms of local refereeing benefiting from the presence of such foreign referees with great experience, despite the large financial cost borne by the club that applies to use the foreign referee.
Al-Ajil said: “The difference between the cost of hiring foreign and local referees is very large, as the cost of a foreign crew in one match amounts to 170 thousand dirhams, while the cost of hiring a local international crew amounts to about 20 thousand dirhams if the crew is international, and the cost decreases to about 17 thousand dirhams only if the refereeing crew is first class and not international.”
Al-Ajil pointed out that part of the amount paid by the club to hire a foreign referee goes to the Football Association, as it bears the costs of travel tickets and accommodation for the foreign refereeing team.
Good and successful phenomenon
Technical analyst Khaled Obaid confirmed that the presence of foreign referees in the local league does not harm the local championship, but on the contrary, their presence is a positive phenomenon, after they led many matches with distinction, and kept these matches away from pressure, stressing that the presence of the “foreign whistle” is an addition, and will not diminish the status of local referees, but on the contrary, it adds experience to them.
Khaled Obaid said: “The process of using foreign referees is not mandatory, but rather optional for the teams, and is determined based on the strength and sensitivity of the matches, as well as the financial capacity of the clubs, and the current situation.”
The same applies to the amounts spent on resident and foreign players, as each team chooses based on its financial capabilities. This trend did not cause any crises over the past three seasons, but on the contrary, it had a positive impact on the course of difficult and sensitive matches, and kept them away from pressure.”
“I believe that the continuation of foreign referees in the local league is very important, and it is something that exists in all world championships, especially since the proximity of local referees to the sports street and clubs may put pressure on clubs and referees. I believe that the experience of using foreign referees, which began three seasons ago, is very successful, and does not constitute a waste of money, because each club acts according to its financial capabilities,” he added.
Desire of clubs and fans
For his part, the players’ agent, Walid Al Shamsi, confirmed that he is in favor of full reliance on local refereeing, but he pointed out that financially capable clubs may sometimes need the presence of foreign referees, due to the sensitivity and importance of some matches.
He said: “Foreign refereeing exists in all countries of the world, and at a rate that may reach 100%, but in many countries, especially Arab countries, such as Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, the public and clubs reject the presence of the (foreign whistle), but they resort to foreign referees in some important and sensitive matches.”
He added: “The cost of calling in a foreign refereeing team is difficult for many clubs, but it is within the reach of financially capable clubs.”
Walid Al Shamsi added: “When the General Assembly of the Clubs approved the decision to bring in foreign referees for our league, its decision was correct, and everyone agreed to it, as it is left to the choice and ability of the clubs to bear the high cost. From my point of view, we have distinguished local referees who are capable of leading any match, but the decision remains with the clubs.”
Experience evaluation and development
Media professional and sports analyst Adel Mohammed Al Hammadi confirmed that the experience of using foreign referees in the Professional League has proven unsuccessful after three seasons of its implementation, pointing out that there are only three or four clubs that have large financial budgets and have the ability to use foreign referees. He stressed the importance of evaluating the experience from all aspects, identifying its positives and negatives, and working to develop it in a better way, calling for the importance of focusing on the local referee and giving him the full opportunity to manage league matches, instead of using foreign referees.
• The presence of the “foreign whistle” reduces pressure on the local referee, especially during big and sensitive matches.
• The cost of bringing in a foreign refereeing team for one match is 170 thousand dirhams, compared to only 20 thousand dirhams for the cost of a local refereeing team.
• Bringing in foreign referees is optional, and is determined based on the strength and sensitivity of the matches and the financial capacity of the clubs.
30 foreign referees appeared in our league
Season 2021 – 2022
Al-Ahly Youth – Al-Jazira: Turkish Cuneyt Cakir.
Sharjah – Al Wahda: German Tobias Settler.
Al Jazeera – Al Ain: Italian Daniele Doveri.
Al Wahda – Al Ain: Dutch international Danny Makkelie.
Season 2022 – 2023
Al Ain – Al Wahda: Portuguese Artur Soares.
Sharjah – Al Wahda: Hungarian Tamas Bognar.
Sharjah – Al Ain: Serbian Srdjan Jovanovic.
Al-Wahda – Shabab Al-Ahly: Argentine Facundo Tello.
Al Wahda – Sharjah: Argentine Fernando Rapallini.
Al Wahda – Al Ain: Romanian Istvan Kovacs.
Season 2023 – 2024
Al Ain – Ajman: German Daniel Seibert.
Sharjah – Al Ain: Englishman Michael Oliver.
Victory – Al Ain: Italian Maurizio Mariani.
Al Wahda – Kalba: Serbian Srdan Jovanovic.
Al Wasl – Al Ain: Slovenian Slavko Vincic.
Ajman – Al Wahda: Italian Michele Fabbri.
Al Wahda – Emirates: Portuguese Thiago Martinez.
Al Ahli Youth – Al Ain: Brazilian Rafael Claus.
Victory – Al-Wahda: Argentine Yael Falcon.
Al Wahda – Al Wasl: Salvadoran Ivan Arques.
Kalba Union – Al Ain: Portuguese Artur Soares Dias.
Al Wasl – Ittihad Kalba: Mexican Cesar Arturo.
Al Ain – Al Wahda: Italian Daniele Orsato.
Khorfakkan – Al Wahda: Bulgarian Georgi Kabakovs.
Al Wahda – Sharjah: Frenchman Clement Turpin.
Kalba Union – Al Wasl: Italian Davide Massa.
Al Wasl – Shabab Al Ahli: Mexican Ceraz Ramos.
Victory – Al Wasl: Russian Kirill Levnikov.
Season 2024 – 2025
Al Wasl – Al Nasr: German Felix Zwayer.
Al-Ahly Youth – Al-Wahda: Dutchman Danny Makkelie.