Preparatory camp for Gulf Cup 27 referees kicks off in Jeddah

The referees for the Arabian Gulf Cup "Gulf 27" have opened their training camp in Jeddah, in preparation for officiating the matches of the tournament that will be hosted by Saudi Arabia from September 23 to October 6, 2026.

Hani Taleb Blan, head of the referees committee of the Gulf Football Association, opened the preparatory program, welcoming the participants and emphasizing the importance of utilizing the camp to reach the highest levels of readiness.

Blanc said: "We trust in the referees' ability to provide a distinguished level of officiating, and we call for commitment, seriousness, and to benefit from theoretical lectures and practical training throughout the camp period."

The program includes theoretical lectures, practical applications, and fitness tests, along with intensive training on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technique and a review of the latest amendments to the laws of football.

Field applications are being conducted at the training grounds of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, discussing various refereeing cases to unify interpretations and enhance technical and physical readiness before the start of competitions.

In conjunction with the referees' camp, the referees' committee has begun introductory lectures for the participating teams, starting with Saudi Arabia, to explain the new instructions supported by clips and practical cases.

The lecture addressed player safety and reducing time wastage, as well as the new approach to dealing with goalkeeper injuries, aiming to unify understanding and minimize misjudgment during matches of Gulf Cup 27.