Following a large number of applicants to its Match Officials recruitment and training programme, UAE football’s Pro League Committee has completed the second phase of its recruitment and training drive to enlist young Emiratis to participate in match organisation.

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Launched by online submission in February, at the initial stage of application submissions candidates undertook face-to-face interviews over a period of 3 days in Dubai and four days in Abu Dhabi, enabling the PLC team to get acquainted with applicants’ skill sets, qualifications and experience, and assess their suitability to become PLC Match Officials.

The interview process was then rounded off by an evaluation of all the candidates to determine those who would be invited to enroll in the training programme.

The PLC will begin the training sessions on Monday, 27th April, with sessions running in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi until June.

Training will include lectures, practical learning, and site visits to clubs in order to prepare the budding officials for the roles. The course will be concluded with assessment tests to ensure the readiness of the trainees to assume their roles.

Suhail Al Areefi, CEO of the Pro League Committee, stressed that the aim of the initiative is to prepare young, ambitious Emiratis for exciting roles within match organisation to the benefit of UAE football. 

“As directed by the PLC’s Executive Office, we have put the Match Officials training program into place in order to prepare our Emirati talent not only for organising matches in the UAE, but also to achieve the levels of understanding in order to represent the UAE as Match Officials in continental and international competitions,” said Al Areefi.

“We received many submissions from young, driven Emiratis who want to work in match organisation, confirming the interest and passion for sport.

“Through the face-to-face interviews we were able to see the enthusiasm and desire of the candidates to contribute to the development of UAE football, and also their ambition to progress to continental and international levels of match organisation.”