Amman — The current Jordanian Pro League season was expected to mark a turning point for Jordanian football and provide a golden opportunity to translate the historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup into a major improvement in the domestic competition. However, after four rounds, the reality has fallen short of expectations, with mounting challenges exposing a clear gap between the ambitions of Jordanian football and the requirements of genuine professionalism.
اضافة اعلان
Rather than serving as a showcase for the progress of Jordanian football and a platform to build on the national team’s achievements at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the 2025 Arab Cup and its historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the league continues to face criticism over the limited availability of stadiums, declining fan attendance, the condition of playing surfaces, refereeing decisions and the use of the video assistant referee (VAR). The situation places the relevant authorities under pressure to review current conditions and address the shortcomings.
While Jordanian football is experiencing one of the most significant periods in its history, the domestic competition continues to face fundamental obstacles affecting the quality of matches, playing conditions and clubs’ ability to deliver performances that meet the league’s standing and supporters’ expectations.
The stadium shortage is among the main challenges facing Pro League clubs this season. The closure of Al-Hassan Stadium in Irbid and Al-Salt Stadium has reduced the options available to teams, forcing them to play away from their usual grounds. This has brought additional travel burdens and costs, while depriving clubs of the advantage of playing at home in front of their own supporters.
The problem extends beyond the limited number of available venues to the condition of the playing surfaces at some stadiums, particularly Amman International Stadium and King Abdullah II Stadium in Al-Qweismeh. Concerns and complaints have repeatedly been raised about the quality of the pitches and their suitability for professional competition.
Criticism has not been limited to clubs. National team players also voiced concerns following Jordan’s matches against Syria and Venezuela, reopening the debate over stadium readiness, maintenance procedures and oversight.
In terms of attendance, crowds at Pro League matches remain below the expectations raised by the national team’s recent achievements. This has prompted questions about the gap between the enthusiasm Jordanians have shown for the “Nashama” and the limited turnout for domestic league matches.
The technical standard of the competition and the nature of the matches also influence attendance, alongside clubs’ efforts to engage with supporters and introduce initiatives that encourage families and young people to return to the stands and strengthen younger generations’ ties with their teams.
Meanwhile, refereeing decisions continue to generate debate and complaints, whether involving on-field referees or incidents reviewed by VAR. The controversy highlights the need to strengthen confidence in the refereeing system and clarify how decisions are made. Shabab Al-Ordon Club president Salim Khair’s criticism of referees and the video assistant referee system sent a clear message about the concerns surrounding officiating.
VAR was expected to help reduce significant errors and enable referees to make more accurate decisions in decisive situations. However, the presence of the technology does not necessarily eliminate controversy, particularly when decisions depend on a referee’s judgment or interpretation of the Laws of the Game.
The key issue remains how controversial incidents are handled, how clearly procedures are communicated and whether the relevant authorities can provide technical explanations that help clubs and supporters understand decisions, rather than leaving broad room for interpretation and accusations after matches.
This makes it important to improve referee training programmes, strengthen coordination between on-field officials and VAR teams, and provide more training on complex incidents. Clear procedures are also needed for handling inquiries and objections, alongside the publication of technical explanations of influential decisions in accordance with the applicable regulations and procedures.
Protecting referees from pressure does not conflict with clubs’ right to seek clarification about decisions. A transparent and fair system can strengthen confidence among all parties, give referees a better environment in which to perform their duties and prevent every match from becoming another source of controversy.
National coach Islam Jalal believes that developing the Pro League requires more than improving teams’ technical performance. It calls for an integrated system encompassing pitch conditions, organisation, refereeing, marketing and efforts to attract supporters.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Jalal said: “Pitch quality directly affects the nature of play, particularly for teams that rely on structured build-up from the back, short passing and quick transitions. Unsuitable surfaces can limit players’ ability to execute their tactical ideas and increase the likelihood of losing possession and making unintentional mistakes.”
He added: “A congested fixture schedule and travel between cities, amid the shortage of stadiums, place additional burdens on players and coaching staffs. This can affect physical recovery and match preparation, making it necessary to treat stadium availability as part of the competition’s technical planning.”
Sports analyst Haitham Ahmad, meanwhile, said supporters need to feel that attending a match is worth their time, effort and money. This requires better organisation, suitable kick-off times, well-prepared stadiums and services that meet the needs of families and young fans.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Ahmad said: “Ongoing controversy over refereeing and repeated concerns about playing surfaces do not help build a positive image of the competition. Addressing these issues would strengthen confidence and give supporters more reasons to return to the stands.”
He added: “True success is not measured solely by the national team’s achievements, but by Jordanian football’s ability to turn that success into comprehensive and sustainable development, beginning with the league and extending to clubs, players and supporters, laying the foundations for a more stable and professional future.”
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Yahya Qutaishat
