8 February 2026 I The CAFA Video Match Officials Course was successfully conducted from 4 to 8 February 2026 at Ashgabat Stadium in Turkmenistan, marking an important milestone for refereeing development in the region.

This seminar represented the first CAFA refereeing programme ever held in Turkmenistan and was organized in cooperation with the Football Federation of Turkmenistan. The initiative aimed to enhance the professional capacity of national referees and introduce them to modern VAR standards and procedures.

Over five intensive days, match officials participated in a comprehensive programme focused on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. The course covered essential topics including VAR protocol fundamentals, lines of intervention, decision-making processes, clip analysis, tactical match situations, and interactive group discussions.

The course was led by Jakhongir Saidov, former FIFA assistant referee and current referee assessor, whose extensive international experience provided valuable insight and practical guidance to the participants.

By delivering this programme in Ashgabat, CAFA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening refereeing standards through education, innovation, and integrity, while further enhancing cooperation with its Member Associations.

The successful completion of the course represents another significant step toward ensuring consistent and modern refereeing development across Central Asia.