Sami Al-Jaris: A Rising Star in Saudi Refereeing

Sami Al-Jaris, a Saudi referee, was born in Riyadh in January 1988. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and quickly transitioned into the field of refereeing. Al-Jaris began his refereeing career in the Saudi First Division League in 2012.

Early Career and Milestones

Al-Jaris became the first arena referee in the 2013-2014 season and mainly officiated matches in the Saudi First Division League. He later appeared as a referee in the Saudi Professional League, starting as the fourth referee in 2015.

The year 2014 marked a significant turning point in Al-Jaris’ refereeing career when he participated in a course organized by the Saudi Federation in coordination with its Arab counterpart. This course included 25 Saudi referees, known as the “referees of the future.”

Professional League and International Experience

Al-Jaris moved between the Professional League and the First League in 2015, officiating several First League matches as a main field referee and as the fourth referee in some Professional League matches. He also participated in the Saudi Professional League in 2016 as the fourth referee in the game between Al-Shabaab and Al-Qadisiya in Riyadh.

Al-Jaris officially received his international badge in 2022, solidifying his position as a permanent referee in the professional league. He has since officiated numerous matches, including seven matches in the 2020-2021 season and 14 matches in the 2021-2022 season.

Recent Matches and Performance

Al-Jaris has managed several high-profile matches, including the Al-Ittihad and Al-Oruba matches in the first round of the Roshan League. He has also officiated matches for Al-Ittihad and Al-Wahda, with varying results.

Despite facing criticism from the Al-Batin club management in the 2022-2023 season, Al-Jaris has continued to officiate matches, demonstrating his resilience and dedication to his craft.

Health Issues and Recovery

Al-Jaris suffered from a health problem while officiating the Al-Ittifaq and Al-Tai matches, but he has since fully recovered and returned to officiating matches in the 2022-2023 season.