The President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, has emphasized the urgent need for accountability within the Referee Department due to continuous errors in India’s ISL and I-League. In a recent virtual meeting, Chaubey chaired a mid-season ‘Refereeing Review Meeting’ to address mounting concerns and discuss ways to elevate the standard of Indian refereeing. Expressing worry over fair play disruptions, he urged officials to uphold ‘natural justice’ and acknowledged the need for transparency and improvement.
During the four-hour meeting on December 31, 2023, 24 controversial Key Match Incidents (KMI) from ISL and I-League games were discussed. Chaubey highlighted the impact of ‘plain-sight errors’ and called for officials to minimize mistakes, beyond the acceptable 15% human error norm. He stressed the importance of considering fan and club investments and suggested a follow-up meeting during the Kalinga Super Cup in Bhubaneswar.
AIFF has invested in referee development through programs like the Elite Development Referee Programme and the appointment of Zonal Referee Development Officers. Chaubey called for education not only for referees but also for fans and club officials to foster a fair understanding of the laws of the game. The AIFF President plans to convene a meeting with ISL and I-League club coaches and managers in Bhubaneswar to discuss guidelines and collective decisions.