For the past three decades since its creation, FIDE Arbiter norms needed only national level tournaments. The 2021 Arbiters Manual, an official FIDE Handbook used by all Arbiters, states requirement for FA title: 3.5 Experience as Arbiter in at least three (3) FIDE rated events (these can be either national or international)...

The FA title is developmental. It motivates National Arbiters to work to get the FIDE Arbiter title. It inspires them to organize local tournaments in far flung cities and provinces to get their norms. And it further inspires them to qualify for the International Arbiter title for which international tournaments are rightly required.

New Article 3.11 requiring international tournaments for FA norms discriminates against Asia, Africa and Americas where there are hardly any, or none at all, foreign chess players residing in most cities and provinces and where international travel is expensive unlike within Europe.