I-League to get it's first woman referee

Maria Rebello, the Goan referee with a FIFA badge, will become the first woman referee to officiate an I-League match. The announcement is a positive news item about a league which has attracted controversy of late due to it’s clubs being at loggerheads with the AIFF due to the IMG-Reliance tournament. Rebello’s involvement in India’s premier football competition was confirmed on Sunday when the AIFF referees committee met in New Delhi. The league commences in late September, and Rebello will officiate her first game as soon as she returns from her stint at the U-19 Asian Women’s Football Championship in China. [caption id=“attachment_974839” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  This is a representational image. Getty Images[/caption] “She can become a role model for several others in the country. She is fit, extremely vigilant and has given a good account of herself. She will be now doing men’s matches at the highest level in the country. I am happy for Rebello because I’ve been her fan.” Gautam Kar, Head of Referees - AIFF, was quoted as saying in the Times of India. The 39-year-old Rebello has FIFA’s badge — the highest accreditation a referee can get. Formerly a midfielder, she has captained India and is also in the list of elite Asian Football Confederation referees. Rebello has already officiated in the Federation Cup qualifiers, the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy and the Goa Pro League. Rebello was quoted in the same report as saying: “I don’t think the I-League will be any different. Whenever any referee takes to the field, we make sure that the team does not have to suffer because of our mistakes. I follow the same principle.” Read the full TOI article here.