Women's World Cup referees praise Aspetar hospital
The officials in charge of the games at the tournament in France underwent health and performance checks at the medical centre in Qatar.
Every time a prestigious international sports event is held, such as the 2019 Women's World Cup, Aspetar plays a vital role.
Aspetar is a hospital located in the Qatari capital, Doha, specialising in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, and is one of the facilities of the Aspire Zone Foundation,
Ahead of the Women's World Cup in France, the refereeing teams for the tournament underwent medical tests at Aspetar.
27 referees and 48 assistant referees from the following countries: United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Ukraine, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda underwent the tests.
During the tests, former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina and the chairman of the FIFA referees' committee accompanied the referees who praised the level of the hospital and the care they received.
"The services are extensive, the medical staff is professional and very experienced. It's the first time I've seen this type of test that treats the referees just like the players. The refs run like the players on the pitch so it's important to know about our injuries and our bodies", said Australian referee Kate Jacewicz.
"We did tests to check physical fitness and the health of the heart, muscles, and respiratory system. The medical teams in the hospital were very cooperative and understanding," said assistant referee Victowar Kowinsi.
For her part, Swedish assistant referee Julia Magnusson said, "Everyone here is highly professional. I say that without a doubt, since I work in a hospital in Sweden and I can make a comparison."
"The hospital uses the most advanced technology and treats athletes as a priority. In and of themselves, the tests are important as they help protect against injuries and improve performance."
English assistant referee Shan Masi said: "We did the tests at Aspetar to ensure everything was going well before the Women's World Cup. I can say that the hospital is highly advanced - along with its medical staff, who pay attention to all the details."