The Chinese team will face a test in the upcoming Qatar World Qualification Asian Zone Top 40 Group A matches to be staged from May 30 to June 15 in Suzhou. The AFC has announced a list of referees, which includes six referees and four officials, and eight assistant referees, who will be in charge of the group stage fixtures.
Kim Hee Gon
It is worth noting that this 40-team tournament will not use VAR technology to assist the referee's enforcement, which means that the game's penalties will rely more on the referee's business level and subjective judgment. It is worth mentioning that, among the six international referees coming to China to coach, including South Korea's Kim Hee-kun, Singapore's Taki, Thailand's Sivakorn and many other referees are not unfamiliar with the Chinese team or Chinese Super League teams, and many of them have even come to China many times to enforce the Super League tournament. In the face of these familiar faces, the national players should deeply understand the importance of respecting the referee, to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the refereeing issue.
As the second half of the Group A tournament approaches, preparations are being finalized. In view of the closed format of the tournament, the AFC has finalized the information on the assignment of referees to ensure their safe arrival at the tournament area in accordance with the quarantine regulations.
In accordance with China's and the AFC's quarantine regulations, all participants in the tournament, including the referees, are required to comply with quarantine measures throughout the tournament. As the referees come from different member associations, they have to enter the country through Shanghai Pudong International Airport and undergo quarantine control together with the four visiting teams in Group A.
The issue of refereeing decisions in soccer matches has always been a focal point, involving competing interests of all parties and frequent disputes. Which referees will enforce the law for China's opponents in Group A has naturally become the focus of attention for teams and fans.
VAR technology will not be introduced to this year's Top 40, which means that the referees will have the heavy responsibility of deciding the direction of the game. A total of 14 referees are involved in Group A enforcement, including six referees and the fourth official, and eight assistant referees, according to Beiqing-Beijing Headlines.
The six referees include Jordan's Ahmad Faisal, South Korea's Kim Hee-Kun, Saudi Arabia's Khalid Alturais, UAE's Ammar Ali, Singapore's Taki and Thailand's Sivakorn. Among them, referees such as Kim Hee-Kun are well known in the Chinese soccer world or among fans.
Kim Hee-Kun has enforced a number of Chinese Super League matches, including key matches such as the knockout match between Guoan and Luneng and the semi-final between Guangzhou Evergrande and Guoan. Taki and Aljenabi also have experience in enforcing China's matches. Thailand's "Golden Whistle" Sivakorn has enforced Chinese Super League matches many times, and his ability to enforce the law has been recognized.
Although the referees come from different associations, the Chinese team is fully capable of obtaining relevant information through various channels to help them prepare for the game. During the training period, international referees and refereeing experts from the CFA have already analyzed the international penalty rules and referees' enforcement characteristics to the international players.
Without the introduction of VAR technology, the Chinese team must respect the referees and penalty rules and obey the referees. The international players should focus on their own play and avoid clashes with the referees over penalties.
