Kuwait City, Kuwait, March 30, 2022: The penalty area in football was the topic of discussion at the Olympic Council of Asia special development project on Wednesday, March 30, and it was a subject followed closely by Syrian referee Ammar Baddour.
“Not every country has video technology to assist the referee. Syria is one country like that and we have to rely on our judgment in this key area of the game. Today’s lesson was a crucial part of this programme and we are very grateful to the Olympic Council of Asia for arranging all this,” says Baddour.
Baddour is one of three Syrian referees participating in the second phase of the OCA development project for coaches and referees across 12 National Olympic Committees in West Asia.
Football, along with judo and gymnastics, are the three sports in the second phase. With football being the most watched sport across the Arab countries, it was no small wonder that Baddour was paying extra attention to Wednesday’s topic of discussion.
“Fouls inside the penalty area are the most important part of the game. If a referee makes a mistake in any other part of the field, it will not have such a big impact on the outcome, but if the referee makes a mistake inside the penalty area, it is a big mistake,” Baddour points out.
Along with close friend and compatriot Ammar Aboalo, Baddour avidly takes down notes from the three instructors from Qatar – Abdullah Balideh, Abdulrahman Hussain and Khamis Al Kuwari.
“We have 14 teams in the First Division in Syria. We are both AFC-qualified referees but it is good to come to seminars like this to update your knowledge and learn the latest rules of the game,” says Baddour.
Both Baddour and Aboalo are the same age, 27, and have previously been part of the Asian Football Confederation’s four-year programme in Kuala Lumpur for Asian referees.
Aboalo gave up playing football when he was 19 after incurring a horrific knee injury. His friend Baddour took up the whistle because “he was no good as a player,” jokes Aboalo.
Whatever the reason, both are committed to honing their refereeing skills. “We are thankful to the OCA for inviting us to Kuwait and giving us this opportunity to learn,” says Baddour.
