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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
Qatari referee Abdulrahman al Jassim, who will be flying the country's flag as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, says his eventual target is to officiate in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Lusail.
"Nothing is impossible in life and I am still working to achieve my goal. I want officiate in a World Cup match but now I am a Video Assistant Referee. My goal, however, is to be the referee at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar," says Jassim.
The 30-year-old official, who has been a referee since 2007 and officially got his FIFA badge in 2013, was selected as part of the 13 VAR officials, making him only the second Qatari official after Taleb al Marri (assistant referee) to feature in the month-long tournament in Russia.
Jassim was the only AFC referee selected to the VAR group with three from CONMEBOL and nine from UEFA.
Speaking to AFC, Jassim who recently took charge of the Amir Cup final, said,"I am proud of what I have achieved and I am still learning everyday and I want to achieve more."
He isn't a stranger to VAR as it was used in the Qatar Cup and Amir Cup competitions in Doha.
Being at the World Cup, Jassim said,"A referee has to know the laws of the game, has to be ready and understand the teams playing.
"We have to know the players' mentality because it is the World Cup. There are a lot of players and different personalities, so you have to be at your best."
With the AFC yet to have a referee in charge of the final, Jassim said that is the goal of the association.
"We want to have an AFC referee officiate a final match. We have had opening games and in 2010 we had one in the semi-final. I think the continent is ready to take charge of a final," he stressed.
