The FIFA representative met with Aspetar officials and a number of hospital experts. He also toured the hospital and learned about the most important medical services provided by Aspetar to football stars and athletes in the world.

During the visit, Dr. Andrew Massey said: 

Aspetar is one of the world's most distinguished hospitals in sports medicine, and our visit comes within the framework of learning about the most important advancements and services provided by the FIFA medical centres of excellence, as well as a step to the preparations of Aspetar and the State of Qatar from the medical point of view for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Worth mentioning that Andrew Massey visited Aspetar last year when he was Liverpool FC medical manager, before taking up his new duties at FIFA last March.

Aspetar was accredited by FIFA as a medical center of excellence in April 2009. As Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Aspetar will have a great opportunity to show its expertise and excellence through a high experienced team that have already participated in the last three FIFA World Cups held in South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.

Aspetar has conducted a comprehensive medical screening of all referees participated in the FIFA World Cup in recent years, including the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

About Aspetar:

Aspetar is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.

In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence”. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014. 

In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”.  In 2017, Aspetar was awarded World Health Organization’s Patient Safety Friendly Hospital-Level 3 designation.

In 2018, Aspetar – Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital was officially awarded Diamond Level accreditation status by Accreditation Canada. This is the highest level of accreditation award possible under the program and awarded to highly committed and quality-oriented organizations that monitor outcomes, use evidence and best practice to improve services.  Aspetar is now the first hospital in the State of Qatar to be awarded this coveted Diamond Level Status. Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.