Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, in association with Football Association of Odisha (FA), has taken an initiative for development of football referees in Odisha. According to a press release from FAO, the DSYS would conduct a training programme for aspiring referees in Bhubaneswar.

The programme has been specially designed for former district and state level football players of Odisha. Referee instructors of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) will train a total of 90 referees (two male and one female from each of 30 districts) in three phases. All three phases will take place in Bhubaneswar.

“DSYS will bear all the expenses for the training programme. The 90 aspiring referees will be trained to make them eligible for Cat-5 Examination,’’ FAO secretary Asiarbad Behera said.

The aspiring referees interested to join the programme have been requested to apply through respective District Athletic Associations. For further clarification, they may contact Durga Madhab Naik (Head of Referees, FAO) over phone (7978775584/ 9040742040).