AIFF may rope in foreign referees for key matches

In a bid to counter recent allegations of poor refereeing, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is reportedly planning to bring referees...

In a bid to counter recent allegations of poor refereeing, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is reportedly planning to bring referees from abroad for a few crucial matches in the ongoing National Football League.

Though no specifics have been decided, it is learnt that the referees — from Malaysia or Indonesia — would be needed for the Dempo-East Bengal match in Margao and the Mohun Bagan-Churchill Brothers match in Kolkata.

Mohun Bagan club assistant secretary Balaram Chowdhury has appealed to the AIFF, requesting it to get a referee from abroad to organise the team’s remaining crucial League matches.

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All India Referees Board (AIRB) secretary Suvarna, however, told The Indian Express: ‘‘I cannot understand why the clubs are making such a hue and cry, particularly in this National League. The same referees had supervised the last eight National League matches. And they have conducted the matches in the other AIFF organised tournaments this year as well.’’

Suvarna refuted the clubs’ allegations strongly, adding: ‘‘We have been watching video clippings of the League matches and we are going through the match-commissioners’ reports carefully in cases where the matches are not being shown live. And I am convinced that some of the allegations made by the clubs are uncalled for.’’

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