UAE assistant ref returns to game

Dubai: UAE assistant referee Eissa Darwish, who officiated in the last World Cup Finals, has said he will return to refereeing after quitting last season.

Darwish said he had been asked to return by the UAE Football Association and put his decision to quit down to a misunderstanding with the FA referees committee.

"The new referees committee chaired by FA member Saeed Abdullah sat with me and asked me to return, because they do not want to lose experienced referees.

"I accepted their request because I am one of the UAE soldiers who must consent to the call and show my patriotism," Eissa Darwish told Gulf News yesterday.

He said that there was no problems between him and the previous referees committee.

"It was just a misunderstanding with the previous committee. I take this opportunity to thank them for supporting and helping me to become one of the best assistant referees in Asia and participate in the World Cup Finals Germany 2006."

Darwish said that he is fit all the time due to his works as a fitness trainer in the Armed Forces in Sharjah.

"I will leave with the referees to take part in the three weeks training camp in Hungary from August 3."

He said refereeing in the coming season will not be difficult.

"The implementation of the professional league will force players, coaches and administrators to be disciplined and to comply with referees decisions, this will make it easy for referees to handle matches," said Darwish.

The official said that he would work hard in the coming months in an attempt to be among the assistant referees in the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

"It was a historic moment for me to officiate in the World Cup finals in Germany two years ago as a dream come true.

"I will work hard during the coming months to satisfy the Fifa and the Asian referees committee to select me to officiate for the second successive World Cup."

Darwish said he was surprised for the amount of mistakes occurred by the referees in the European Championship.

"They are of the best referees in the world and most of them will officiate in the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

"I didn't think such mistakes could be created by them.

"However this is a good lesson for our club officials and supporters that referees mistakes is part of the game, as the player and coach made mistakes, also referee made mistakes.

"We have to accept it as they use to do in Europe without protesting or complaining," Darwish said.

Factfile

• Name: Eissa Darwish.
• Born: March 1st 1966 in Sharjah.
• Occupation: Fitness trainer in the UAE Armed Forces.
• Playing career: played for Al Zaid for seven years from 1987 to 1994.
• Refereeing career: qualified in 1995 and achieved Fifa badge as assistant referee in 2002.
• Has officiated in the World Clubs Championships December 2006 in Japan along with many Asian and Arab club tournaments.
• Highpoint of career as referee: 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. Officiated in the Mexico v Angola, Holland v Costa Rica, Sweden v Trinidad and Tobago games.