Today at AFFA Headquarters, AFFA Executive Vice President Elkhan Mammadov has a meeting with the referees and assistant referees who will officiate the 2021/2022 season Azerbaijan Premier League matches.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Referees Committee members, Mr. Mammadov congratulated Professional Football League and the referees on the eve of the new season and wished them every successes. E. Mammadov said that along with the coaches and players, the referees have a great responsibility in terms of the quality of the games to be held within the Premier League and Country Cup. Recalling some mistakes made last season, AFFA Executive Vice President advised the referees to prepare more diligently and be more attentive.
Mr.Mammadov noted that regardless of place and time, referees officiating Azerbaijan championship matches should not meet with any club officials, representatives and coaches, and even if it is a random and short-term meeting, they should immediately inform Referees Committee: "The goal is not to impose any restrictions on referees, but to ensure transparency".
Noting that work is being done to implement another important issue in the field of refereeing, Mr.Mammadov said that the Professional Referee System would be applied from September 1: “The professional status of referees will be a very important step in the development of this field, as well as referees and the public will be informed in detail in the near future”.
Regarding the application of the VAR system, the referees were informed that the tender issues have already been resolved and if there are no delays due to the pandemic, the VAR system can be used in Azerbaijan Premier League from February 2022: “The applying of the VAR system will not only provide technological support for fair decisions during the matches, but also allow our referees to keep up with modern international standards”.
Elkhan Mammadov noted that after the introduction of the VAR system in Azerbaijan, FIFA would be asked to allow the negotiations between the referee and the VAR to be publicized: “This can also contribute to transparency in the refereeing”.
At the end of his speech, Mr. Mammadov once again wished the referees success, emphasizing the importance of each referee striving to enter the international arena and stressed the importance of setting this goal: "It is gratifying that our referees are invited to international matches at the club and national team levels, as well as to national championship and national cup matches of other countries and their officiating is highly regarded”.
