The refereeing controversy has returned to the forefront with the launch of the Syrian Premier League for football, as was the case last season, which witnessed wide-ranging discussions about referees' performance, turning refereeing decisions into the most prominent headline in most matches of the competition. While most countries in the world rely on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, the absence of this technology still places referees under the pressure of making decisive decisions, exposing them to significant fan and administrative pressures that sometimes escalate to insults, threats, and assaults inside stadiums.
Refereeing expert and international referee Tammam Hamdoun said that the football refereeing corps in Syria faces a difficult reality that has deprived a wide segment of the football audience of trust in the football system, with its most prominent feature being slow development. Hamdoun added that Syrian football possesses promising young refereeing talents, but these energies clash with an administrative and technical system unable to provide the necessary solutions to elevate the refereeing sector.
Hamdoun clarified that the fastest solution to curb refereeing errors affecting match results lies in implementing the video assistant technology, noting that this technology significantly reduces critical errors. Hamdoun questioned the reasons for delaying the implementation of the technology despite the absence of fundamental financial or logistical obstacles from abroad, pointing out that the Syrian Football Federation holds a frozen financial balance with FIFA that could be utilized to develop the game.
For his part, sports media specialist Majd Abdullah said that the repetition of influential errors in the Syrian Premier League in recent seasons raises serious questions about the reality of the refereeing system and the reasons for its development stagnation. He emphasized that accountability constitutes a fundamental pillar in any reform process, provided it is based on fair and clear standards that distinguish between discretionary errors, technical shortcomings, and repeated serious mistakes.
Abdullah pointed out that employing foreign referees in some sensitive matches could constitute a temporary solution that helps alleviate pressures and enhance confidence in the competition, while local cadres are developed according to standards of competence, experience, and ability to manage matches under pressure.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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