Interview with elite referee Mohammed Al-Hakim

Mohammed Al-Hakim is one of Sweden's FIFA referees, who also uses a Spintso watch for his matches. We wanted to get to know Mohammed a little more, not just as a referee. Did you know, for example, that he has a record in the Allsvenskan, highest football league in Sweden? Read the full interview with him below.

- Hello. How are you Mohammed?
- Hello. With me it is very good, I feel good. The form is good and it is being built up, in Sweden the pre-season is under way. I am getting closer to the match form I want to be in, once the season starts i will be there.

- How is the feeling for the 2022 season?
- Every year is special, I think. The feeling is that i am very motivated for this year. Hopefully a good season and hopefully a season that is not characterized by corona or anything around. I keep my fingers crossed that such things do not affect the audience and that it can be full in the stands again.

- You have internationall matches during the winter season, when we have a break in Sweden. How are the thoughts there, is it still a bit more "feeling" for the season in Sweden?
- Yes, it's a little more extra with the season in Sweden. It's important, I would say, because this is where I belong in everyday life. The international is a bonus, there will also not be as many matches there as there will be in Sweden. So the season in Sweden is the wonderful thing you look forward to. Spring is always special with the pre-season and you look forward to the matches a little extra after a long winter.

- We know a lot about you Mohammed, but can you share with everyone else about when and how you started refereeing football?
- I started refereeing when I was 13 years old and I played football myself then too, then the idea was that I would do something extra on the youth side. My big brother took me and my other brother to start refereeing. Then I was a referee, while I was playing football and combining it, until I was about 20 years old. Then at that time I thought that here I have to decide which way I want to go. Then I chose to invest in the refereeing and also got a boost from the referee district here in Västmanland who believed in me. They thought I had something in me and have the opportunity to go far. The choice became easy and I thought that now I go for it. That's how my investment, in time and energy, started and it went straight up in the series system.

- Combine you said. Now you combine two things as well. You combine a job in the Swedish Armed Forces and a Referee, right?
- Exactly. I have a position which means that I work 50% in the Swedish Armed Forces and 50% as a referee. It works very well, where I have a good dialogue and deal where it is possible to combine this. I thrive in these professions and they develop me as a person in many different directions, but there are also many qualities that can be combined. As long as it works well, I will continue to do so. Within the Swedish Armed Forces, I train, internally, those who will receive a higher degree and I am a teacher at such a school and I myself am an Officer for the Captain's degree.

- If we let Sweden go for a while and back to international matches. Do you have a special memory from an international match?
- Since I were little and watched football, I have seen the Champions League. The song for the intro, for the Champions League, when the players and referees are in the middle and the camera passes - I shudder. I got chills then, but still today I get it! To experience it as a referee has been really powerful. I have not experienced it as a head referee yet, but as an extra referee, fourth official. But to stand there on Line-Up and hear the song, it is something special and difficult not to remember it extra. Then as head referee I have a memory that is extra for me, when I refereed Tottenhamn in the Europa League at their home ground. Being on that stage was special.

- Is the next goal to referee the Champions League, in other words?
- Yes, that's my next goal. I took a step up this winter and I was promoted to category one, which is the second highest in UEFA's system. Then I will get more and better matches and from there hopefully I have the opportunity to referee the Champions League. That's my big goal and I'm working to get there!

- Let's see how much you now about yourself Mohammed. Do you know that you have a record in the Allsvenskan?
- Record? Is it the most number of matches in a season?
- Yes that's right. A little tougher then, do you know when and with whom you share that record?
- Wow... Do I share it with anyone? I thought I was there myself. But when, could it be three or four years ago?
- Almost yes, it was 2016. You have a record of 29 matches in the Allsvenskan in one season and Daniel Stålhammar also has 29 matches in 2009.

- Referees are generally a bit nerdy when it comes to statistics. Many keep track of matches, cards, minutes, distance and so on. Are you a nerd?
- Well, I have a pretty good view of statistics. I usually document most things I do and want control over most things around me. So yes, I'm well aware of my stats, but maybe not nerd-nerd. Sometimes it's fun to go back and look at the statistics. To enjoy my, and my teams, progress and learn more from mistakes.

- Openness in football has previously been close to your heart. Do you think that openness in football has deteriorated or improved? What more can be done?
- There is a big difference in how it is in Sweden compared to other countries. UEFA has strict rules, so if we leave it aside for a while, I think the view of things is different here in Sweden. Here we can have a different approach and openness. We may have a different availability of us referees in Sweden, compared to other countries. Therefore, I think it works to do more openness in Sweden. I think the openness here has improved and I think that is an important part of it. It is important that we referees, but also players and leaders and others around us are communicative to create a better understanding. We get a completely different environment, a better environment for what we are doing. I believe in it and it has gotten better in recent years, but more is needed. We must also have a balance in it, of course, it must not be too open and we are quite vulnerable as referees. But we must be able to offer ourselves a little sometimes and at a good level.

- Do you want to send something to a referee who can feel this vulnerability? How can we get referees not to give up, but to continue with refereeing?
- First and foremost, I have learned a lot over the years. But as a referee, you step into a role on the pitch and you must not take things too personally. What is thrown at you from the audience and things around, what we can not control in the same way, you must not take it too personally. It's easy to do and I've done it myself, but you have to grow in it and learn it. Listen more to people who think you do a good job and who think you are needed. It is important that you learn to handle it. The second is that there are a lot of mental abilities, that you tell yourself that you are there, that you do your best and that you really try to do your best in all matches. Tell yourself this more often and that you develop in it. Then we are stronger as referees and can handle these vulnerable situations in a good way.

- Is there something you want to end with, before we end the interview for this time?
- Yes. That we as referees always give fully regardless of level. Do you referee division 5 or the Allsvenskan, we have to be professional in our role, always. Extra important of course if you want to get higher up, but even if you are happy where you are, you have to be professional towards those you are there for, towards the teams and the players. It is immediately visible if you do not. Put a little extra energy and focus in your role as a referee and you will always benefit from it!

- Mohammed Al-Hakim, we wish you all the best with the season. Keep doing your thing. Thanks!