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Conclusion of the Match Organizers Workshop

The Match Organizers workshop which was organized by the Pro League Committee “PLC” for six days under the auspices of the Sports Care Program attached to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council at the Rocco Forte Hotel in Abu Dhabi, was concluded on Friday, August 31. The last four–day workshop which was confined to the PLC Match Commissioners and the clubs’ General Coordinators included theoretical and practical work at Al Nahyan Stadium in Al Wahda Club and concentrated on the places the commissioners have to inspect.

John Windsor, AFC Executive Director pointed out in his lecture delivered to the Match Commissioners and professional clubs’ General Coordinators, that the match commissioner has to abide with the list of things he ought to do before, during and after the game, noting that the timing is one of the main keys to success to end the match without any errors or obstacles. He also stressed in the workshop, which saw an overwhelming response from the attendees, on the importance of reading the PLC regulations. He assured on the importance that the commissioner must possess some characteristics which he needs to lead the game organizing team.

On the other hand, Brian See, AFC Competitions Officer, also gave a detailed explanation about the matches’ organizing mechanism in the AFC, and gave many of the cases that occur in the stadiums along with proposals and solutions to avoid them.

A practical part of the workshop was held at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, where different matters were explained including making sure of players’ entrances of both hosts and visiting teams, players’ buses parking areas taking into account the separation of that area from the fans, as well as making sure of the entrances and exits of ambulances. Windsor explained during his practical explanation that the commissioner should examine the two teams’ dressing rooms and their full readiness including equipment, Doping control room, balls boys room, control and security room... The participants, taking part in the visit, were shown the things that should be inspected in the pitch, including the coaches’ technical area, side lines , goals measures, penalty area measures and corner kick areas.
At the end of the visit, Windsor delivered a detailed explanation about the places that the commissioner should visit after the game including the mixed zone, in addition to the press conference room hosting the coaches’ press conference to be held after the game.