EPL educating young referees

[Old Master]

Premier League educating young referees
The Premier League is again playing a major role in educating promising young referees from across the world.



Three talented young officials from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have spent a week in England learning how Premier League referees perform their duties.

The trio are all part of Project Future, a course unique to the AFC where talented referees are given an intense two-year education programme to turn them into top-class match officials.

The aim is to build on the success of a similar visit a year ago when five gifted young AFC referees were invited to pick up tips from the top.

The trip proved hugely beneficial to their development and all five have made great strides in the 12 months since.

Zhan Lei and Wang Di of China have both recently been appointed to the FIFA list and regularly take charge of matches in the Chinese Super League.

Jarred Gillett (Australia), Fahad Jaber Al Al Marri (Qatar) and Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh (Jordan) are still too young to join the FIFA list but are on track to do so soon.

Now three more AFC officials are hoping to follow in their footsteps. Ahmed Adubakar of Oman, Ahmed Aqashah of Singapore and Fu Ming from China have all enjoyed this exciting opportunity.

top referees

Project Future leader George Cumming explained the value of the initiative: "The scheme was set up by AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam to identify some of the best young refereeing talent and provide first-class tuition.

"He has worked very closely with Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards. It has been a mutually beneficial arrangement and we are very keen for it to continue.

"Last year five guys came over and they found it hugely useful to work with some of the top referees in the game. It was a kind of finishing school for them and they are now all very highly regarded in the game.

"It was a huge learning curve for them to see the professional way things are done here and to work with referees they see all the time on television.

"They were able to use the Prozone system which analyses referees' fitness and positioning in matches. It has given them a much more professional attitude to refereeing and they were able to take take this new knowledge home and pass it on to their colleagues.

"It proved so successful that we have repeated the exercise this season and will continue it in future years."

The trio took in a Barclays Premier League fixture, sitting in the crowd for Birmingham City v Aston Villa to capture the full atmosphere.

They also enjoyed a Wembley tour and worked with Mike Riley and Ray Olivier of the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) as well as training with some of the Select Group of officials.

good experience

Aqashah said: "It was very good experience for me to come here and learn so much. I was very lucky to be chosen to come to England and I will take this knowledge back home and pass it on to my colleagues.

"I learned so much about professionalism and it was fascinating to use the Prozone system and to see how it shows your fitness and strength. It is quite amazing.

"I have really enjoyed the trip and the chance to work with so many experienced people who have taught me a lot and that can only help me in my career."

Adubakar added: "This was a good opportunity to join up with some of the game's top referees and to see how they work.

"Although the laws of the game are the same in Europe and Asia, the Premier League referees might deal with certain situations differently.

"The Premier League is one of the strongest leagues in the world and it was good to work with their referees.

"Everyone in Asia follows the Premier League every week and this was a good chance to learn from people we normally see only on television.

"It all adds to my knowledge and experience and this course has given me a lot more confidence."

All Australian A League referees should go through this.

The standard of A League refs is the worst in Asia.

[Litmanen]

I thought Sir Alex Ferguson trained all the refs these days

[I'm confused]

The standard of A League refs is the worst in Asia.

source?

[BTAC]

I thought Sir Alex Ferguson trained all the refs these days

[Culprit878]

The standard of A League refs is the worst in Asia.

source?

Petro83