The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) successfully concluded the FIFA MA Referees Course 2026 on September 17 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, capping a five-day program that brought together 31 participants from 17 Regional Football Associations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Led by FIFA Referee Instructor Farkhad Abdullaev of Uzbekistan, the course combined classroom instruction, video technique sessions, and on-field practical training, reinforcing PFF’s continuing efforts to raise the standard of officiating nationwide and align local referees with FIFA’s evolving interpretation of the Laws of the Game.
PFF President John Gutierrez lauded the initiative as part of the federation’s broader push to professionalize Philippine football at every level.
“Referees are the backbone of a well-run competition, and courses like this show our commitment to giving them the tools they need to officiate with confidence and integrity,” Gutierrez said. “Every investment we make in our match officials is an investment in the credibility and growth of the sport in our country.”
PFF General Secretary Gelix Mercader, who attended the closing session, congratulated the attendees and reminded the referees of the responsibility that came with their role:
As match officials, the decisions you make in the field not only impact the game you are officiating, but also football development in the country. Young players will look up to you and rely on your judgment for their safety and how they learn the game, and they will carry this with them as they grow. So always bear in mind that as you officiate, you are also educating our players.
Mercader also thanked Abdullaev for his time and the offer to collaborate with the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA).
“With this and future collaboration with UFA, there’s so much we can learn from their experts, their First Vice-President Ravshan Irmatov is a former top FIFA referee with 11 FIFA World Cup appearances,” Mercader continued.
The five-day program followed a structured curriculum designed to build both technical understanding and physical readiness. FIFA Refereeing Education (FIFA RED) teaching materials were used for the entire duration.
The course opened on September 13 with an opening ceremony, followed by sessions on the amendments to the Laws of the Game for 2026/27, video technique training on Penalty Area Incidents and Challenges (PAI and CHA), and a discussion on penalty area incidents and challenges, capped by a practical session with players and fitness training in the afternoon.
Day two shifted focus to Handball and Tactical Fouls (HB and TF), with video technique sessions in the morning followed by a discussion on handball and tactical fouls, and a fitness test held in the afternoon.
The third day tackled Offside (OFS) through video technique training and discussion. On September 16, participants underwent a full-day analysis of video technique across all five focus areas—PAI, CHA, HB, TF, and OFS—paired with a final practical and fitness session in the evening.
The course concluded on September 17 with a session on match management, a summary of the week’s lessons, and a formal closing ceremony.
Instructor Abdullaev commended the participants’ dedication throughout the week.
“Today we completed a five-day course, and I was happy to see the discipline, commitment, and enthusiasm in the referees’ eyes,” he said. “Seeing such talented boys and girls with this level of dedication gives them a great chance to go higher and make a lasting, positive impact on Philippine football.”
He left the group with a challenge to carry forward: “Don’t look for motivation outside—it should come from inside as we keep pushing forward.”
PFF Referees Department Committee member Virgilio Imperial closed the course with a sobering reminder that the real test begins once the referees return to the pitch.
He pointed to three challenges that separate classroom mastery from match-day execution: the split-second pressure of applying new interpretation guidelines under maximum tension, where even well-prepared officials can stumble; the difficulty of maintaining consistency between calm video analysis and decision-making under fatigue in the late stages of a match; and the risk of slipping back into old habits once referees return to working in isolation, away from the cohort.
To guard against this, Imperial urged the referees to treat the course as an investment rather than a credential.
“The real value of this course isn’t measured by the certificate in your bag—it’s measured by your Return on Investment (ROI) when you step back onto the pitch,” he said, stressing that the ROI of the week “drops to zero” if participants fail to apply what they learned in their very next match.
He also called on the referees to elevate the standard within their own associations by mentoring younger officials and sharing what they had learned, and to build a lasting feedback loop by staying connected with one another, reviewing clips together, and holding each other accountable to FIFA standards long after the course had ended.
The course was supported by Roberto Hernandez and Dennis Estaniel as Referee Assessors, Ariel Montaña as Fitness Instructor, Bayani Jose Abad and Virgilio Imperial as Committee members, and Mark Abel De Castro as Referee Administration Manager.
PFF looks forward to seeing the newly trained officials carry these lessons back to their respective regions, strengthening the pipeline of qualified, FIFA-aligned match officials across the country.
FIFA MA Referees Course 2026 — Participants by Regional Football Association
- Batangas FA
- Raymart Delos Santos
- Romario Jhay Dela Cruz
- Cavite FA
- Bryan Buergo
- John Mike Basinang
- Paul Galicia
- Timothy De Castro
- Cebu FA
- Benedict Ross Tabar
- Jasper Gerarman
- Central Bicol RFA
- Robert Roldan
- Cordillera RFA
- Samuel Mendoza Jr.
- Davao FA
- Annalou Arrogante
- Jestoni Concepcion
- Jycellia May Diong
- Merlo Albano
- FA of Rizal
- Christian Deck Pacaña
- Jesus Abogado
- Relly Balila
- Iloilo FA
- Francis Engalgado
- Meliton Pelayo
- Laguna FA
- Chrismel Cayabyab
- Negros Occidental FA
- Genmar Sandigan
- Joyleen Panganiban
- Lendsy Joy Moradas
- Negros Oriental – Siquijor RFA
- Ian Christopher Salon
- Olongapo City – Zambales FA
- Jeannyfer Bruan
- Oriental Mindoro FA
- Mick Jon Pineda
- Pagadian Zamboanga Sibugay RFA
- Zaid Malang
- Quezon FA
- Niño Andrei Leoparte
- Keith Nañola
- South East Luzon Masbate RFA
- Ryan Clores
- Zamboanga del Norte RFA
- Ronelo Gitigan Jr.
