Richard Nartey Arrived in Cairo for FIFA Course
Assistant referee Richard Nartey has joined international officials in Egypt for a professional development program.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Soccer
Assistant referee Richard Nartey has arrived in Cairo, Egypt, to participate in the upcoming FIFA Referees Course. The program is designed to evaluate the professional, technical, and physical readiness of newly promoted referees.
Why it matters
This course serves as a critical assessment point for officials preparing to officiate at the international level. It ensures that referees meet the rigorous standards required by FIFA for global competition.
The program spans a 6-day period of intensive physical and technical evaluations. It builds upon a framework for referee development that was originally instituted by CAF in 2014.
The players
Richard Nartey
He is an assistant referee and the first individual from Somanya in the Eastern Region to achieve FIFA referee status.
FIFA
This is the international governing body for association football responsible for setting standards and overseeing professional referee development worldwide.
CAF
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative body that oversees football on the African continent.
The details
Richard Nartey, who is the first FIFA referee from Somanya in the Eastern Region, will undergo a series of technical sessions and assessments. The program focuses on verifying that participants are prepared for the demands of international officiating.
Timeline
The program was first instituted by CAF in 2014.
The course will take place in Cairo from September 25-30, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The professional development of referees is essential to maintaining the integrity and quality of international soccer matches. By standardizing officiating protocols, this program ensures that elite-level competition remains consistent across various global tournaments.
Professional certification ensures that international matches are officiated by referees who have passed standardized physical and technical testing. This helps minimize officiating errors that could impact the outcome of high-stakes matches during the upcoming tournament cycle.
The takeaway
The rigor of this training emphasizes that high-level officiating requires the same level of preparation as the athletes themselves. Success at the professional level depends on consistent adherence to these international performance standards.
What happens next
The FIFA Referees Course is scheduled to continue through September 30, 2026, at which point the final assessment results for participants will be determined.
Further reading
For more information on the standards governing global matches, visit the Soccer section.
