Reliance Foundation to Host Nationwide Workshops for Women Football Referees, Empowering Over 170 Officials

by FC February 21, 2025

RFYS in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is launching a series of Women’s Football Referees Workshops across India, aimed at empowering and upskilling over 170 women match officials.

The first workshop kicks off in Srinagar today, marking the beginning of a nationwide initiative focused on strengthening the refereeing ecosystem and promoting inclusivity in football.

The workshops will be held in five cities—Srinagar (February 21-22), Kolkata (March 1-2), Shillong (March 8-9), Chennai (March 15-16), and Mumbai (March 19-20)—with each session bringing together regional participants. In Srinagar, officials from neighboring regions, including Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and others, will come together for the training.

Esteemed AIFF instructors will lead the sessions, including Uvena Fernandes, India’s only female assistant referee to officiate in a FIFA World Cup final, and Maria Rebello, a former Indian women’s national team captain and FIFA-listed referee. These experts will provide crucial insights into the technical aspects of officiating, ensuring that the women referees are better equipped to officiate at both national and international levels.

Ngangom Bala Devi, senior player of the Indian women’s football team, expressed her support for the initiative, saying, “Refereeing is a very challenging job, and I have high regard for all the match officials who ensure fair play in Indian football. This workshop will empower officials to officiate more regularly in national and international competitions, contributing significantly to the betterment and growth of Indian football.”

The initiative reflects the rapid growth of women’s football in India, with more women taking up roles as players, coaches, and match officials. This season alone, 40 women match officials have participated in RFYS and the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), underscoring the rising pool of talent in the sport.

The series of workshops follows successful efforts by RFYS and AIFF, such as the Indian Women’s League (IWL) workshop in November 2024, which focused on enhancing technical skills and match-day performance. Since 2022, RFYS has partnered with AIFF and other key stakeholders to conduct similar workshops, positively impacting over 620 coaches and women match officials and empowering them to drive the development of Indian football.

With a commitment to fostering a more inclusive and capable football ecosystem, Reliance Foundation’s workshops are set to further elevate the role of women in the sport, encouraging the next generation of female referees to play a pivotal part in shaping the future of football in India.

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