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UAE International referee Al-Mansouri retires after more than 20 years to join UAEFA Referee Committee
Emirati international beach soccer referee Ebrahim Al-Mansoori has officially retired from refereeing, as he announced recently.
After more than 20 years of refereeing career, in which he took part in four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups, and also being honored with the UAE Sports Innovation Award, Al-Mansouri calls it a day. This does not mean that he will leave football and beach soccer behind though, though, as he has become a member of the UAEFA Referee Committee.
Al-Mansouri told Emirates Today, “I am satisfied with myself, and I feel very happy for the role I played over all these years, and I am proud to be the only Emirati and Arab referee to have taken part in four World Cups“. Actually, he was one of the officials in the final of the 2017 World Cup, held in Bahamas, which also got him the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Innovation in 2018.
Al-Mansouri has been a first-hand witness and overseer of beach soccer development by the UAE, something he also highlights: “The UAE have projected beach soccer internationally with great success, showing their trust in the sport and also their excellent job, which we have seen both in the 2009 World Cup and the annual Intercontinental Cup hosted by Dubai Sports Council“.
Talking about his retirement, Ibrahim said that it was just the right time. “I made this decision with the absolute conviction that I have given everything that I could to help develop not only beach soccer, but also futsal and football, and it is now the time to let others have their opportunity.”, he said.
After having him on the sand since 1998, it will be strange not seeing Ibrahim down on the pitch at the Intercontinental Cup in his home country, or the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup…
Good luck in your next adventure, Ebrahim, and thank you for your commitment over all these years!
