Saudi League Significantly Increases Costs for Foreign Referees, Streamlines Request Process
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Football Association (SFA) has announced substantial changes to the process and cost of securing foreign refereeing crews for matches in the Saudi League and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup. These adjustments, detailed in a recent statement carried by the Saudi Sports Newspaper, aim to ensure access to top international officials while addressing rising expenses.
The most significant change is a considerable increase in fees. The cost for a four-person foreign referee crew has risen from 175,000 Saudi riyals to 300,000 Riyals. Adding a video Assistant Referee (VAR) increases the cost to 375,000 Riyals, and including a fourth official and assistant VAR referee brings the total to 450,000 Riyals. Last season,adding VAR to a four-person crew cost 219,000 Riyals,and a fourth foreign official was not explicitly mentioned in the fee structure.
Beyond the price hike, the SFA has also adjusted the timeframe for requesting foreign officials. Clubs now have 21 days before a league match to submit their requests – an increase from the 14-day window last season. The 14-day timeframe remains in place for Cup matches.
The SFA statement notably omits the previous emphasis on actively seeking “the best international referees available,” focusing instead on a standardized request mechanism mirroring the planned procedures for the 2025-2026 season.
Key details of the new process include:
Electronic Submission: All requests must be submitted through the Mysaff electronic system, accompanied by a deposit covering the requested cost.
Unlimited Requests: Clubs can submit requests for as many matches as they desire, irrespective of whether they are the home or away team.
Cancellation Policy: Clubs can cancel their request up to seven days before the match, receiving a refund and assigning the match to a local refereeing crew. Contingency Plan: If a foreign crew is unavailable, the SFA will assign a local crew and refund the associated fees.
* Joint Applications: Both the home and away teams can jointly submit a request, outlining their reasons for seeking foreign officials.
The SFA emphasized that the increased fees are necessary to cover the actual costs associated with bringing in foreign referees, including rewards, travel, accommodation, and transportation. previous fee structures, according to accredited financial reports, were insufficient, leading the SFA to cover the financial shortfall. The new mechanism will also apply to the Saudi Super Cup, hosted this season in Hong Kong.
This revised system aims to provide a clear and financially sustainable framework for accessing international officiating expertise in Saudi football.
