QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune No dream start QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune for Dustin Johnson at Augusta Masters PAGE 11 FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 Automated offside decisions possible at Qatar World Cup: Wenger DPA/TNN to see if a player was in an 2002 FIFA World Cup Final. tory at the recent FIFA Club FRANKFURT illegal position. Now Collina has another key World Cup. “At the moment, we have role of influence as Chairman “We were happy of the very FIFA official Arsene Wenger situations where the players of FIFA’s Referees Committee, good performance of Edina believes it is realistic an auto- are on lines to see if they are with his position encompassing and her assistant referees, mated system for making off- offside or not,” said Wenger. the development of officials and but we were not surprised,” side calls could be in place by “On average, the time we all aspects of officiating. he said. “All the decisions in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. have to wait is around 70 sec- “The objective of FIFA is terms of referee selections are “The automated offside I onds, sometimes one minute to have fair results on the field taken because of quality.” think will be ready for 2022,” 20 seconds, sometimes a little of play and technology can Asked about female ref- the 71-year-old Wenger, a for- bit longer when the situation is help achieve this objective,” he erees featuring at the FIFA mer Arsenal manager and now very difficult to appreciate. says. “Part of President Infan- World Cup, Collina said: chief of global football devel- “It is so important because tino’s vision for the future is “We are preparing referees, opment at the world football we see many celebrations are to make VAR more affordable we are not preparing male or governing body, told the Living cancelled after that for marginal for a larger number of member female referees, so the crite- Football Television programme. situations and that’s why I be- associations. We are trying to ria (is) quality. “Automated means it goes lieve it is a very important step.” find a solution that can be im- “There will be time to directly from the signal to the In the same FIFA television plemented with a lower num- make this decision, and I wish linesman and the linesman programme, iconic referee ber of cameras available.” all the referees – male and fe- has on his watch a red light Pierluigi Collina also opined. Collina also discussed the male – to have the opportunity that tells him offside or not The much-respected Ital- enhanced focus on developing to be part of this competition, offside.” Goals scored are cur- ian was a familiar figure dur- female match officials on the because it is an experience I rently reviewed by video with ing a storied career, which Former Arsenal manager and now chief of global football development at the world football governing back of Brazilian referee Edi- lived twice in my life and I can calibrated lines being studied was capped by overseeing the body – FIFA, Arsene Wenger, speaks during the Living Football Television programme. na Alves Batista making his- say it is simply great.” Al Sadd look to stay unbeaten, Al Rayyan keen to nish third TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA THE big three, and the top three of QNB Stars League season 2020-21 – Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al Rayyan re- QFA Cup draw held spectively will be in action in their final Week 22 of the league on Friday. GROUP C: Al Wakrah, Umm While champions and e 17-team Salal and Muaither runaway leaders Al Sadd will GROUP D: Al Kharaitiyat, Al play Qatar Sports Club, Al competition will Arabi and Al Shamal Duhail meet fourth-placed Al kick-o on April 15 GROUP E: Al Sailiya, Al Waab Ahli while Al Rayyan will play and Lusail SC Al Khor. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK The group stage matches Al Sadd will look to main- DOHA of the tournament will start on tain their clean slate by stay- Al Sadd’s Spanish coach Xavi Hernandez (left) and Al Rayyan French coach Laurent Blanc on Thursday address the media on the eve of their April 15 with two confronta- ing unbeaten. Speaking on the QNB Stars League Week 22 matches against Qatar SC and Al Khor respectively. THE draw for the QFA Cup tions, the first of which brings eve of the clash on Thursday, was held at the Qatar Football together the Al Ahli and Mesai- Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez Rayyan was a good example level against Al Khor which Association (QFA) headquar- meer SC at 9pm at Hamad Bin said the Wolves were ready for because Al Rayyan are trying we presented against Al Sadd. ters on Thursday morning Khalifa Stadium, while Al Khor Qatar SC. to qualify for the AFC Champi- I know that it is a different with 17 teams from the first will play Al Bidda in the second “We are ready for the final ons League and we won again match but I am confident that and second divisions, exclud- match at 11.15 pm at the same match of the league. Our next in Qatar Clasico,” added Xavi. after two bad matches against ing Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al stadium, and the first round match is against Qatar Sports Al Sadd player Hosam Ka- Umm Salal and Al Sailiya, I Rayyan who are participating matches will be resumed. Club, who are one of the teams mal said, “This is an important found my team playing well in the AFC Champions League. At 10pm the next day that we have not been able to match for us. The last match in against Al Sadd. The teams have been divid- (April 16), will see three defeat this season. We drew the league this season awaits “I will focus only on the Al ed into five groups, with four matches where the Umm Salal against them in the first leg. us and our goal is to conclude Khor match for now. I know teams in the first and second and Muaither will meet at Al In my opinion, they are a very the competition without a loss. the result I want. I have pre- groups, while the third, fourth Sailiya Stadium. good team, seeking to qual- Achieving victory gives us an pared my team in order to and fifth groups includes three The Suhaim Bin Hamad ify for the AFC Champions advantage in the upcoming achieve victory. teams each as follows: Stadium will host the Qatar League next season,” he said. competitions. “Sometimes you win, GROUP A: Al Ahli, Al-Khor, Al- SC meeting with Al Shaha- “In their last match against “Qatar SC are going sometimes you don’t win. Bidda and Mesaimeer SC nia at 9pm, followed by the Al Ahli, they (Qatar SC) played through a good period and This is football, but in the last GROUP B: Al Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al Gharafa and Al Markhiya with 10 players against 11 and need no introduction. The first game, I will prepare my team Al Shahania and Al Markhiya match at 11.15pm. this means that the match leg between us ended in a draw to win because we need the against them will be difficult and we will try to compensate three points. We have to finish and complex for us. for it with a win this time. Our the season in third place so we “But our goal is to finish coach in recent matches is have to win,” Blanc added. this competition without de- making many changes in order Al Rayyan player Dame feat and of course we want to to give all players the opportu- Traore said, “The players need get three points. nity and also to prepare us for to be fully focused against Al “We will continue the ro- the AFC Champions League Khor. We must deliver a good tation process among the matches.” performance. Certainly, any players. We will rotate again team can go through a bad because in this last period we Our goal is to beat Al Khor, will be good for everyone who ing with a big heart. I hope we situation and we are now in had three matches in six days, finish third: Al Rayyan loves football. It is true that continue to carry on this per- a bad position, but we will do but we want to end the season coach Blanc the situation of the two teams formance,” he said. the best for the sake of return- with three more points. Al Rayyan coach Laurent is not the same. “I know how important ing to form. “I am very proud of the Blanc was wary of Al Khor but “We want to win to main- this match is and the players “It is true that Al Khor are team and these players. It is keen on a good finish. tain our third place in the know it as well. in the 11th position, but we easy to be a coach with this “The match will not be easy league and Al Khor want to “This is the last match in have to fight to win as there side because of the way they for Al Rayyan and of course win as well so it could be an the league and we want to win, are no easy matches. If we play train, their sense of football it will not be easy for our op- exciting match. but the truth is we want to win seriously, we will have the op- and their work ethic.