Unseen victims of Indian football’s shutdown: Referees turn to ‘khep’ games as AIFF struggles to start tournaments

“Khep” is a word in the Bengali language that is primarily associated with football and is difficult to translate into English.

A Google search would reveal the word is mainly related to the unregulated football system in India, mainly West Bengal, where skilled players often participate in unrecognised tournaments in the countryside for immediate cash payments. To put it bluntly, it is mercenary football, a part of the gig economy in the vast unorganised sectors.

In the Indian football circle, Khep football is looked down on with contempt, and registered professional footballers and referees are strictly barred from taking part in it in any form. The reason is clear: The substandard ground conditions, poor management, amateur opponents, and lack of security can cause career-threatening damage to a professional player. A state or the national federation can slap heavy sanctions if a registered footballer is found participating in Khep football.

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Though Khep football is rampant in the countryside, the top-notch professionals in Indian football rarely get involved in these shows. After all, they cannot risk injuries.

But things have changed in the past few months.

Indian referees pushed towards ‘khep’ football

A senior and highly respected referee in India told this correspondent that many leading men from his trade are now supervising in these unrecognised tournaments in exchange for ready cash. “I don’t blame them,” he said. “With no club tournaments around, including the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League, the income of the referees has suddenly dried up.

“In India, many of the top referees are solely dependent on refereeing and do not have additional jobs. With the All India Football Federation (AIFF) holding no club tournament throughout the season, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to sustain. What can they do? They have to run a family after all,” the senior referee asked.

A lot has been written about the plight of the clubs, players, coaches, support staff, and club employees ever since the AIFF failed to start the ISL and the I-League. An uncertain future is staring at them, as many of these people may face the sack before the 2025-26 season can be completed. But equally worrying are the conditions of the match officials, who have remained virtually jobless throughout the season.

“Our referees at the top tier earn a decent amount during the ISL and the I-League season. The matches are tough, the job is demanding, and the compensation is satisfactory. I truly wonder how they will sustain when the main source of income is stopped,” a former referee said.

In the ISL, a referee receives a payment of Rs. 20,000/- per match. In the I-League, the payment is Rs. 10,000/-. Around 70 to 80 referees and assistant referees are engaged in these two tournaments per season. All costs put together, the AIFF spends around Rs five to six crores for match officials in club tournaments.

“The little comfort zone we had because of the ISL and the I-League is gone now,” said a referee, pointing out that the payments in other tournaments, including many of the National Football Championships (NFCs), are low, hardly enough to put bread on the table on a daily basis.

The AIFF, for the past few years, has been encouraging the referees to take it up as a full-time profession and not to engage in any other job. But many of the referees have started doubting this theory, not without reason. Currently, there are 10 professional referees on contract with the AIFF: six referees and four assistant referees. While the referees receive a monthly salary of Rs. 53,000/-, the assistant referees earn Rs. 42,400/-.

“The professional referees have their contracts till December 31, 2025. Will it be extended since currently there is no sign of the ISL, the I-League, or the I-League 2 starting in the near future?” questioned a former referee.

“And, this is about 10 professional referees only. What about the others? Do you think that if this fiasco continues, any youngster will be interested in entering this thankless profession?" he further asked.

Indian referees risk losing international matches

But then, this is not the only side of the story. This complete breakdown of the system can harm the Indian refereeing community even at the international level. With no top-tier domestic tournaments and matches, the Indian referees may not be considered for future international matches.

“The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) prepares their panel of referees for international matches based on the performances of these supervising officials in domestic tournaments. With nothing to show on the plate, how can the Indian referees expect to find a place in the prestigious list? If the 2025-26 season finally goes to waste without a match being played, then it would be difficult to push an Indian referee or an assistant referee for the FIFA list in 2027,” warned a former FIFA referee.

Overall, the Indian refereeing scenario is in complete doldrums currently. Like the footballers, this very profession stands threatened, while the AIFF is now busy with their annual general meeting on December 20, amendments to its new constitution, and vote politics for the elections to be held next September.

Meanwhile, the AIFF has issued a circular inviting former players and referees to start their associations as per the new constitution given by the honourable Supreme Court.

“It’s a complete joke,” quipped a former referee. “Our profession is in the dock, the bread and butter are slowly snatched away. The AIFF is doing nothing to restore our confidence but asking us to form an association. No one is simply bothered about it.”