Referees
A referee development initiative held as part of the Memorandum of Agreement inked between both parties last December, the five-day event ran from June 25 to 29, 2025 and took place at various venues in Subang Jaya, including the FASpace at Tanjong Subang Jaya, Red Giants Physio Centre and 3K Complex Field.
The inaugural edition saw the participation of 11 referees—two graduates from Batch 2 (2018) and six graduates from Batch 3 (2019) who are among the retention period, and three current second-year officials from Batch 5 (2023), who were led by AFC Referee Educators Ryuji Sato and Valentin Kovalenko.
AFC Referee Academy Training Camp at FA Selangor
Item 1 of 5
Central to the training camp was the opportunity for the referees to officiate in 23 league matches under the FAS’ auspices—11 in the FAS Super League and 12 in a specially-organised FAS Premier League Mini Carnival, which enhanced their real-match capabilities. Furthermore, the Referee Educators provided immediate feedback and technical assessments to refine the referees’ performances, while also honing their teamwork skills by collaborating with local FAS referees that they were encountering for the first time.
Aimed at identifying talent for the AFC Elite Referee Panel in addition to fostering development, the comprehensive programme also featured daily briefings, fitness sessions led by Selangor FC coaches and Super Inductive System physiotherapy treatment—an innovative therapy that provides pain relief and accelerates recovery, among other benefits.
The success of the training camp underlines the AFC’s firm commitment to nurturing the best refereeing talent in Asia and developing world-class match officials through the first-of-its-kind AFC Referee Academy.
Photos: FA Selangor
