AIFF signs professional contract with FIFA Referees

Pratap Singh, C R Srikrishna and M B Santosh Kumar signed the contract with AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das at the AIFF Headquarters at the end of the two-day Match Commissioner and Referee Assessor Education Course.

Head of Referees Goutam Kar, who conducted the seminar, described it as an "epoch-making" development.

"It is an epoch making day for referees in India. This is a seven month contract which the three referees are being signed. They will get their monthly salaries and all other expenses except match fee will be taken care of by AIFF," Kar said.

"The contract will run from October to May on a trial basis. After assessing its pros and cons we will extend it," he added.

FIFA referee Pratap Singh said, "I feel honoured to be a part of this professional system. It means we have to put in that extra bit on match days and do our job more prudently and with care. We are thankful to AIFF for choosing us."

Santosh Kumar said it was a dream come true. "We have got the boost to give our best and improve ourselves. We have been trusted with added responsibility and we are ready to grateful to AIFF."

"Our responsibility has increased. We cannot let AIFF down. I want to thank the federation for thinking us worthy of the contract," Srikrishna said.