IQA Officials Policy

This policy is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity in all refereeing activities at the IQA 2025 World Cup. Referees play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the competition, and it is essential that their decisions are unbiased and free from any personal, professional, or financial influences. The purpose of this document is to outline the expectations and requirements for referees regarding conflict of interest and the code of conduct they must adhere to during the tournament.

Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when a referee has a personal, familial, financial, or professional interest that may influence or appear to influence their impartiality and decision-making during a match. To ensure the fairness of the tournament, the following guidelines are established:

Personal Relationships:
Referees must disclose any personal relationships (e.g., family or close friendships) with players, coaches, or teams involved in the tournament. If such relationships are disclosed, the referee may be assigned to officiate a different match or team to avoid potential or perceived bias.
National Affiliations:
Referees must declare all affiliations with any nations in attendance, such as citizenship or membership with a National Governing Body. If such relationships are disclosed, the referee may be assigned to officiate a different match or team to avoid potential or perceived bias.
Financial Interests:
Referees must not have any financial stake in the outcome of the tournament, including but not limited to sponsorship deals, bets or investments that could be influenced by match results.
Disclosure:
Referees are required to disclose any potential or perceived conflict of interest to the tournament organizers. If a conflict arises during the event, referees must report it immediately to the relevant authorities and may be asked to step down from officiating the match in question.

Code of Conduct

The integrity of the tournament depends on the conduct of all officials involved. Referees are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism both on and off the field. The following guidelines outline expected behaviors:

Impartiality:
Referees must officiate with complete impartiality, without favoring any team, player, or coach. All decisions must be based on the rules of the game and objective observation, free from any external influence.
Respect and Professionalism:
Referees must treat all participants—including players, coaches, officials, and spectators—with respect. Discrimination, harassment, or any form of inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
Competence:
Referees are expected to maintain a high level of knowledge of the rules, and technical ability. They must be prepared to make decisions confidently and consistently, ensuring the game is conducted fairly.
Confidentiality:
Referees must maintain confidentiality about any sensitive information they become privy to during their officiating duties.
Alcohol and Substance Use:
Referees are prohibited from consuming alcohol or any substances that may impair their judgment or performance while on duty, during official tournament hours.
Uniform:
Referees are expected to wear the required uniform and adhere to any additional dress code or appearance standards set by the tournament organisers.

Enforcement

Any violation of this policy, including failure to disclose conflicts of interest or breach of the code of conduct, may result in immediate suspension from officiating at the tournament. A thorough investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action, including expulsion, may be taken based on the findings.