As part of the ongoing partnership between FIFA and the Qatar Stars League (QSL), and on the sidelines of FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 and FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025, QSL and FIFA organized a training course on professional club management on December 10 and 11, 2025. It was attended by Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of QSL, Dr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development at QSL, and Ms. Ornella Desiree Bellia, Director of Professional Football Relations and Development at FIFA, along with club executives and a number of international experts and speakers.

The course aimed to equip club executives with the latest knowledge and expertise to enhance performance across all sectors – administrative, commercial, legal, marketing and sporting.

The programme covered key areas such as strategic planning, transfer system and legal aspects, enhancing commercial revenue, club governance and decision-making mechanisms, development projects within QSL, club licensing, financial responsibility, youth development, integrity and anti-doping.

Commenting on the course, Mr. Hani said, “As part of our joint efforts with our partners and clubs to achieve the highest standards of professionalism in Qatar football at all technical, administrative and organizational levels, we were keen to organize this course in co-operation with FIFA. It provided an important opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to continued development, particularly regarding administrative and organizational aspects within clubs. This initiative is part of QSL’s programmes aimed at strengthening and developing operations to benefit professional football.”

He added, “I extend my thanks to all partners, clubs and the FIFA team for their outstanding co-operation throughout this course.”

This initiative is part of a series of programmes organized by QSL to build professional leaders capable of meeting the demands of modern football, and enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of club operations.