Qatar prepares; FIFA tests new refereeing decision at the 2025 Arab Cup

In an unprecedented organisational move, FIFA has announced the adoption of a new refereeing standard that will be applied at the Arab Cup in Qatar. During the tournament, whenever any player requires medical attention they must leave the field for at least two minutes. The rule will be followed except for two cases:

1. Goalkeepers requiring treatment.

2. Injuries resulting from fouls that warrant a yellow or red card for the opposing player.

From now, any player claiming injury will have to leave their team a player down for 2 minutes. The decision, revealed by Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, is part of an international drive to reduce time-wasting and simulation. And, the rule aims to ensure the continuity and pace of play during the tournament.

And, FIFA representative Roberto Grassi also announced the implementation of another new refereeing experiment. From now, if a player is found to be exaggerating a fall or feigning injury, they will be sent off for two minutes. According to Grassi, this measure aims to protect the integrity of the sport and reduce attempts to deceive that affect the pace of play, as well as to speed up refereeing decisions during matches.

FIFA gear up for Arab Cup

During a press conference held by the local organising committee for the Arab Cup in Doha, attended by Al-Kanari’s correspondent, officials confirmed that all preparations were complete for the start of the second edition of the tournament. The contest will be held between 1 and 18 December with 16 Arab teams competing for the most important regional title.

The speakers revealed that the tournament is enjoying huge public interest, with 700,699 tickets sold so far. The 2025 tournament also received extensive media coverage, with the organising committee receiving 3,861 applications for media passes, including 2,085 from outside Qatar, in addition to accrediting 15 regional and international television channels for broadcast studios in Doha, and granting television broadcasting rights to a number of major media networks.

A new refereeing system and a tournament with international standards

With these successive decisions, FIFA and the organising committee are seeking to deliver an exceptional edition of the Arab Cup, combining updated rules of the game and improved quality of competition with a fan and media experience on par with other major international tournaments.

The tournament is expected to attract increasing interest in the coming days as the kick-off approaches, with fans eagerly awaiting to see how the new decisions will be implemented and their impact on the performance of the participating Arab teams.

Featured image via the Canary