Shillong, March 10: Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is conducting the ongoing Women’s Football Referees Workshop to upskill and inspire over 170 women match officials across India. This initiative, which began on February 21 in Srinagar, is fostering a stronger and more inclusive refereeing ecosystem.
Following successful workshops in Srinagar (February 21-22) and Kolkata (March 1-2), the Shillong session took place on March 8-9. Upcoming sessions are scheduled in Chennai (March 15-16) and Mumbai (March 19-20).
Senior Indian women’s football team player Ngangom Bala Devi emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “Refereeing is a very challenging job, and I have great respect for all the match officials who ensure fair play in Indian football. This workshop, organized by Reliance Foundation in association with AIFF, will empower them to officiate more regularly at national and international levels. It is heartening to see continuous efforts for the development of Indian football.”
Led by expert AIFF instructors, including Uvena Fernandes-India’s only assistant referee to officiate a FIFA World Cup final-Maria Rebello, former captain of the Indian women’s national team and a FIFA-listed referee, and M Joychandra Singh, AIFF Zonal Referee Development Officer in the Northeast, these workshops are equipping match officials with crucial technical and decision-making skills.
With women’s football in India witnessing remarkable growth, approximately 40 women match officials have already participated in RFYS and Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) competitions this season. The ongoing workshops build on RFYS’s long-term commitment, which has benefited over 620 coaches and women match officials since 2022.
