Modern times demand that Football Referees are physically and mentally alert and fully fit. He should be committed and totally focused on the laws of the game. The referees have to make split-second impartial and correct decisions without being influenced by players on the field, coaches in the technical area and/or any external factors. I had an opportunity to meet Madhav Suvarna, who had been an ex FIFA Referee, Referees Instructor & Match Commissioner for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and All India Football Federation (AIFF). He was functioned as Hon. Secretary AIFF Referees Board from 2001 to 2004. At the present time he holds the position of Vice Chairman AIFF Referees Examination Board and Member of the Referees Development Committee.

Q. What prompted you to take up refereeing?
A. Basically it was tremendous love for the game and since I was employed with the Central Bank of India, the facilities had been given to me and I decided to make the best use of it and grow successfully in this endeavour.
 

Q. Share with us your climb to the top as a football referee?
A. Enrolled as a qualified referee of the Bombay Referees Association in 1969; I was promoted to the National Cadre in 1979. I had been selected to FIFA panel in 1985 and continued in the FIFA panel till December 31, 1991. Later, I was selected as AFC Match Commissioner / Referees Instructor from 1992 where I am continuing till date. Moreover, I had refereed a good number of matches abroad for the Pre-Olympics at Doha, Qatar and Yemen; the Pre-World Cup at Amman in 1990 and at Kaohsiung in 1991. That apart, I officiated some of the Asian Youth Championships and the 8th Asian Cup Women's football Championship including the final match between Japan and China.

Q. You have told us about your assignments abroad, how about the domestic front?
A. I officiated major tournaments in India like the Nehru Gold Cup from 1986 to 1991 and also the South Asian Federation Cup at Calcutta in 1987. The National Championships, Federation Cup and other major tournaments in India were also a part of my assignments. I am happy to inform you that I had been awarded the “Best Referee of the Tournament” - the Durand Cup in 1990 from the then President of India Mr. Shankar Dayal Sharma.

Q. As a Referees’ Instructor abroad, you had a vast experience. Could you enlighten our readers?
A. It is true that for the last 15 years I have been going to different countries on various assignments as Referees’ Instructor. My experience is that the set up of referees' development in foreign countries is at a very high level. The financial position plays a very important role in this activity. Secondly these countries being very small compared to India - have one language one climate, hence monitoring the referees' activities and providing them effective training becomes very easy. The referees in foreign countries officiate matches in other countries on an EXCHANGE PROGRAMME. This enhances their exposure and the referees involved in matches at domestic level get lots of encouragement and financial support from the Government of their country. The competent authorities depute good referees for high level training and also invite good instructors from outside to train their referees. These countries promote refereeing at a very early age between 20 and 25 years with incentive training. In all foreign countries there is a full-time referees department attached to the Federation with reasonable salary paid to the persons working in the referees department. Finally the foreign referees have lot of exposure, hence they develop faster. THE REFEREES ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR PROFESSION and there is total monitoring by the Development Committee of referees. Again it is very necessary that sufficient funds and dedicated personnel are needed to take care of referees development.

Q. What do you think about the standard of referring in the current 11th NFL matches?
A. The standard of refereeing has very much improved in our NFL. Our referees are doing a good job as they get more and more matches in our domestic tournaments. The AIFF is also monitoring their performances regularly. It is also proved that we have very good referees since our International referees regularly get assignments in the FIFA and AFC Championships. I personally feel there is still room for improvement especially in NFL matches. The areas are consistency and uniformity in application of laws. These areas are to be addressed by regular training and monitoring performances of referees in NFL. Performance level based incentive for promotions and demotions may help the current set back wherein the referees will be extra careful in their commitments to good refereeing. Since the NFL is the premier tournament of our country and the sponsors are very much interested in the smooth running of the tournament and teams are fighting for handsome prize money-perfect refereeing is very much needed to achieve the desired goal by the AIFF. Therefore special attention and effective monitoring is essential to curb the defective area in the performances of referees in NFL.

     Looking Ahead & Beyond

UPLIFTING THE STANDARDS OF INDIAN FOOTBALL:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter's visit to India has generated a lot of interest in the country's football fraternity. It has also generated a heated debate on whether this kind of assistance will help in the country or whether All India Football Federation's (AIFF) style of functioning is the right approach. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam, for one, has been very vocal about his displeasure in the way the AIFF functions.

In my assessment, if things go the FIFA way, everyone involved is all set to tap the football potential in the country and is too eager to wake up a sleeping giant, which for many years has been too vibrant and has a lot to offer to the game. However - FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter, Asian Football Confederation President Mohammad bin Hammam are emphatic that dreams could be realized only if they moved in a planned way in terms of infrastructural development and the way the game was being played in the country.

The biggest question that arises in the minds of football enthusiasts is whether India is set for big time sponsorship and take over by the Corporates. It has now come to light that Indian Football is priming itself to be the next business destination for investors in sports. Here it will be in the fitness of things to highlight an incident which took place in the 1970 Asian Games. Both India and Japan shared the bronze medal for football and without a shadow of doubt Indian football in the early 70's was at its peak. Japan then took the initiative in attaining the support of their government and corporates which ultimately led them to taking a big leap forward. Indian football which was at its pinnacle would have done likewise but for the lack of foresight during those crucial years by the administrators of the game. This is precisely why FIFA president Joseph Blatter calls India a “sleeping giant”.

It is now time for AIFF to act and take note of all the expectations that have been handed down by the current FIFA and AFC Presidents. All this seems to be a timely event with professionalism stepping in this October. The primary and the important factors in the agenda would be to have adequate infrastructure, tackle the game at its grass roots level (through schools and colleges) and ensure players are under the AIFF umbrella. More importantly the government and corporates should come together to work for the promotion of this popular game. It is only then that the fervent wish of FIFA president shall be fulfilled “Get ready with the necessary infrastructure and who knows you might get to host a World Cup soon. I believe in rotation policy and according to that, Asia might get to host the 2018 Cup. So get going and grab the opportunity. We are ready to help India.”

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