This result is similar to the first fitness test held last Sunday. Five of the 38 participants had failed the test then.

The referees are required to pass the test if they are to take charge of major AFC matches this year.

AFC is insisting on high standards of fitness for Asia’s top referees to ensure they can keep up with the fast-paced action that is characteristic of the continent’s top club and national competitions.

In the fitness test today, 20 participants exceeded the requirements by running two laps more than the required 10, including three candidates who are probables to officiate at the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa this year - Uzbekistan’s two-time AFC Referee of the year Ravshan Irmatov, Australian Matthew Breeze and Yuichi Nishimura from Japan.

AFC Director of Referees Department, Yoshimi Ogawa expressed his delight with the participants who exceeded the required standards and also urged the ones who missed out to do their best.

"I am very happy with their performance. This means that they are well prepared and maintain their fitness level high,” said Ogawa.

"Those who have failed shouldn’t give up. I don’t know what is going wrong with them, but I do believe in their ability. I hope they won’t disappoint us in the re-test in March, “said Ogawa.

"We have high expectations from all AFC Elite Referees."

The course is part of the AFC’s 2010 Elite Education Seminar that provides Asia’s leading referees, coaches and administrators with a chance to upgrade their knowledge and skills.

High-profile former English elite referee Keith Hackett is among the instructors for the course, with the assistance of Singapore’s Shamsul Maidin and Japanese Toshio Utsumi, from FIFA, Saudi Arablia’s Ali Al Traifi, Japan’s Noboro Ishiyama, Qatari Hany Ballan and Scot Raymond Farrely.