Football fans were treated to a significant milestone on Saturday, July 27, as UAE referee Adel Al Naqbi took charge of the Dominican Republic vs Spain Men's Group C match at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — held at the Stade de Bordeaux before a crowd of 16,099.
FIFA Appoints UAE's Adel Al Naqbi for Paris 2024 Olympics Group C Match
The FIFA Referees Committee selected Adel Al Naqbi to officiate what it described as the Men's Group C match with the highest expectations. The fixture — Dominican Republic vs Spain, Group C Match 14 — kicked off at 15:00 local time at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France.
Al Naqbi was supported by two fellow Emirati officials: Ahmed Al Rashidi as First Assistant Referee and Sabit Obeid as Second Assistant Referee, making it a fully UAE-staffed officiating team for one of the tournament's most anticipated group stage encounters.
UAE Officiating Recognised on the World Stage
The appointment underscores the growing international recognition of UAE match officials. Al Naqbi has built his reputation through appearances in the UAE Pro League and continental competition, including the AFC Champions League, and has managed friendly international matches since 2016.
For the Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournaments, FIFA assembled 89 match officials in total drawn from 45 countries — a group comprising 21 referees, 42 assistant referees, 20 Video Match Officials, and 6 support referees. Being selected from that pool is a mark of elite-level competence.
Spain vs Dominican Republic: A Group C Showdown
Spain arrived in Paris as one of the tournament favourites in Men's Group C. The Dominican Republic, making strides in their Olympic football journey, provided a competitive challenge in what proved to be a highly anticipated fixture in the group stage.
The role of the match officials is central to maintaining the standards of play and the integrity of Olympic football competition. Al Naqbi and his crew's assignment to this fixture reflects precisely that level of trust from FIFA.
