RIYADH — In a historic moment for Saudi sports, Hiba Al Owaidi made her debut as the main referee in an official match of the Saudi Women's League, marking a significant milestone following her international accreditation by FIFA.
The match, which took place at the stadium in Khobar, saw Al Owaidi take charge as the main referee, with Abdullah Al-Medad and Khaled Al-Anzi assisting her as line judges. This momentous occasion comes after her inclusion on FIFA's international list, where she initially served as the fourth official in a match between Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and America's Inter Miami during the Riyadh Season Cup.
Al Owaidi's performance during the match, which featured renowned footballer Lionel Messi from Argentina, garnered widespread attention and praise for her professionalism and high-quality officiating skills.
Her achievement adds her to the prestigious list of 22 Saudi referees accredited by FIFA, as announced by the Saudi Football Federation in December last year. Among these notable names are Mohammed Al-Houish, Faisal Al-Bluwi, Sami Al-Jrees, Majed Al-Shamrani, Khaled Al-Turais, Abdullah Al-Shahrani, and Shukri Al-Hanfoush.
Apart from her role in football refereeing, Al Owaidi has also been recognized for her talents in gymnastics. She was one of eight female referees accredited by the Ministry of Sports for gymnastics in January 2021, alongside Jawhara Daghestani, Sahar Al-Dahish, Samah Noor, Khulood Ali, Sarah Al-Zubeidi, Najla Madbouli, and Ahlam Al-Olayani, further highlighting her versatility and dedication to sports officiating.
