Referees Gather in Fujairah for Key Briefing Ahead of 2026 Karate One-Youth League Opener

All referees and judges officiating at the 2026 Karate One-Youth League Fujairah met for the official briefing ahead of the first Youth League event of the season. WKF President Antonio Espinós headed the briefing alongside Asian Karate Federation President and WKF Vice President Major General Nasser Alrazooqi. The session was managed by WKF Referee Commission Chair Javier Escalante.

The session brought together the full refereeing body before competition begins at the opening Karate One Youth League tournament of the year. As the Fujairah event marks the first stop of its kind of the 2026 season, the meeting focused on reviewing the rules updates introduced at the start of the year.

Addressing the referees, President Espinós praised the work of the WKF Referee Commission in raising standards year after year.

“The work of the WKF Referee Commission has been tremendous, as they continue to elevate the level of our referees and ensure that every update to the rules is understood and applied correctly. This is essential for the credibility of our sport, as well as to the raising standards of our competitions.”

“Our sport keeps progressing and referees must do the same. I ask all of you to give your utmost on the tatami and to keep up with that progress. I would like to thank Major General Alrazooqi for hosting this competition and for his continued support as he remains a tremendously valuable asset to the WKF and to the development of karate worldwide.”

(Top picture: WKF President Antonio Espinós (left) and Asian Karate Federation President and WKF Vice President Major General Nasser Alrazooqi)

WKF President Antonio Espinós addresses the audience of referees in Fujairah

WKF Referee Commission chair Javier Escalante managed the meeting

The rules updates were on top of the agenda of the meeting

WKF President Antonio Espinós (left) and Asian Karate Federation President and WKF Vice President Major General Nasser Alrazooqi (sitting, centre) pose with the members of the referee commission ahead of the 2026 Karate One-Youth League Fujairah.