Srinagar, 21st February: Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), dedicated to promoting football and empowering women across all levels of the game, is set to host the Women’s Football Referees Workshop starting February 21 in Srinagar, in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). This initiative aims to upskill and inspire over 170 women match officials across India, fostering a stronger and more inclusive refereeing ecosystem. The workshops will begin in Srinagar on February 21-22 and continue in Kolkata (March 1-2), Shillong (March 8-9), Chennai (March 15-16), Mumbai (March 19-20).
Senior Indian women's football team player Ngangom Bala Devi stated, "Refereeing is a very challenging job and I have a high regard for all the match officials who ensure a fair game in Indian football. The workshop to upskill match officials organized by Reliance Foundation in association with AIFF will empower them to officiate more regularly in the national and international competitions. I'm very happy to see initiatives like this taking place regularly for the continuous betterment of the sport and development of Indian football."
Each workshop will see match officials from neighbouring regions participate. For instance, the Srinagar session will welcome participants from Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and other nearby areas. Expert AIFF instructors will lead the workshops, including Uvena Fernandes—the only Indian assistant referee to officiate in a FIFA World Cup final—and Maria Rebello, former captain of the Indian women’s national team and a FIFA-listed referee.
Women’s football in India has experienced significant growth, with more women taking on roles as players, coaches, and match officials. Approximately 40 women match officials have participated in RFYS and Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) competitions this season, highlighting the growing talent pool.
In November 2024, RFYS organized a workshop for Indian Women’s League (IWL) match officials, focusing on enhancing technical skills and match-day performance. Since 2022, RFYS in collaboration with AIFF and other strategic partners, has conducted multiple similar workshops, benefiting over 620 coaches and women match officials and empowering them to play critical roles in developing Indian football.