Moroccan officials handed Gulf Cup final between Saudi Arabia and UAE

Moroccan referee Jalal Jaid will lead the officiating team for Tuesday’s Gulf Cup final between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Jaid has been appointed as the centre referee for the decisive match, with fellow Moroccans Zakaria Brinsi and Mustafa Akarkad serving as his assistants.

Hamza Al-Farq will complete the Moroccan team by taking charge of the video assistant referee (VAR) duties.

Jaid earns final after two Gulf Cup matches

The appointment caps a strong tournament for Jaid, who has already officiated two matches during the current Gulf Cup.

He took charge of Kuwait’s group-stage meeting with Iraq before later overseeing the UAE’s match against Qatar.

Those assignments helped put the Moroccan official in contention for the tournament’s biggest match, and he will now referee the final between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

His appointment represents another opportunity for Moroccan officials to gain experience on the international stage and underlines the growing presence of African referees in major competitions outside the continent.

FIFA recognition for Moroccan officials

Jaid and Brinsi have also received recognition from FIFA, which previously selected them to be part of the refereeing team for a World Cup ranking match.

Their involvement in the Gulf Cup final adds another significant assignment to their international careers.

Jaid will now have the responsibility of overseeing a high-profile final as Saudi Arabia and the UAE compete for the Gulf Cup title, with the Moroccan officiating team responsible for managing the match both on the pitch and through VAR.