AIFF to rope in foreign referees for National League

New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) In a new move to avoid controversies, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is mulling over roping in foreign referees in this year's National Football League (NFL) which begins here from Friday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 11th edition of the NFL at Ambedkar stadium here with JCT Phagwara taking on Mohammedan Sporting of Kolkata in the opening match.

Addressing a press conference here today, AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said, ''In some highly sensitive matches we are considering of foreign referees after taking into confidence the clubs concerned .'' Mr Dasmunsi said the AIFF would write to Asian Football Confederation regarding this and the AFC would allot referees.

''We can not decide from which country would be the foreign referees. That will be done by FIFA,'' he said.

Indian referees officiating League matches would also come under scanner and Mr Dasmunsi said the AIFF Executive Committee would discuss the report card of referees after the fourth round.

NFL was last year plagued by controversies with Goan outfit Fransa Pax refusing to turn up thier scheduled match against Air India after a refeering decision went against them in an earlier tie against Mahindra United.

The Goan outfit's demand for a rematch of the Mahindra match and rescheduling of their later match was rejected by the AIFF. Fransa chairman later dissolved his club and NFL continued without the Goan side.

The AIFF president, also Information and Broadcasting Minister , however, disagreed that Indian referees were not up to the standard of their counterparts from neigbouring countries.

''In around 100 matches in a year, taking into account NFL, Federation Cup, Santosh Trophy and Durand Cup, we received only around six complaints regarding refereeing decisions. That is far better than FIFA World Cup which had 15 per cent complaints,'' he said.

Mr Dasmunsi also said there would not be any change in the existing rule of allowing three foreign players in a club in the League.

''New rules will be framed by the AIFF Executive Committee before NFL gets professionalised,'' he said.

The AIFF is looking ahead to start the professional league later this year.

Mr Dasmunsi also announced that title sponsors ONGC, who are playing in the Mumbai League, will be directly placed in the second division NFL from this year so that ''they could come in the first division soon.

Two top teams from second division replace last two finishers in the 10-team first division each year.

The AIFF also released the schedule and venues of the League upto the fourth round. Zee Sports will telecast 45 matches live.

NFL Schedule: Round I: January 5: JCT VS Mohammedan at Delhi January 6: HAL VS Mohan Bagan at Bangalore January 7: Air India VS East Bengal at Mumbai January 7: Churchill Brothers VS Sporting Clube de Goa at Duler, Goa January 8: Mahindra United VS Dempo Sports Club at Mumbai Round II: January 11: HAL VS East Bengal at Bangalore January 10: JCT vs Mohan Bagan at Ludhiana January 12: Dempo Sports Club VS Mohammedan Sporting at Duler, Goa January 11: Mahindra United VS Churchill Brothers at Mumbai January 12: Air India VS Sporting Club de Goa at Mumbai Round III: January 14: Mahindra United VS Mohan Bagan at Mumbai January 16: Air India VS HAL at Mumbai January 17: JCT VS Churchill Brothers at Ludhiana January 18: Dempo Sports Club VS Sporting Club de Goa at Duler, Goa January 18: Mohammedan Sporting VS East Bengal at Barasat, Kolkata Round IV: January 20: Mohan Bagan VS Air India at Barasat, Kolkata January 21: East Bengal VS Churchill Brothers at Barasat, Kolkata January 21: JCT VS Dempo Sports Club at Ludhiana January 22: Mahindra United VS Sporting Club de Goa at Mumbai January 22: Mohammedan Sporting vs HAL at Barasat, Kolkata UNI PDS AY VV1558