The 76-year-old Calcutta Referees Association, probably the oldest referees’ association in Asia, will not be introduced to visiting FIFA President Sepp Blatter. The All India Football Federation "has kept the CRA out of the loop in the gala reception for Blatter who will be visiting the three premier city clubs [East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting] and then head towards the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in the evening to watch the East Bengal-Mohun Bagan National Football League derby," reported Sudeep Pakrashi for Express India.
“The Federation bosses have started promoting in a big way the sudden change of Indian football’s face from its existing amateurish status to a professional outlook. But the referees, particularly the city’s referees’ condition will remain the same. At a time when the Federation is spending millions on the occasion of Mr Blatter’s visit to the country, a referee is given a mere amount of Rs 1300 for supervising a National Football League match. You check with your neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and find out how much the referees are paid for officiating a country’s premier championship match there. You will find they are given at least double the amount we are paid,” said a senior national referee.
“The Federation bosses have started promoting in a big way the sudden change of Indian football’s face from its existing amateurish status to a professional outlook. But the referees, particularly the city’s referees’ condition will remain the same. At a time when the Federation is spending millions on the occasion of Mr Blatter’s visit to the country, a referee is given a mere amount of Rs 1300 for supervising a National Football League match. You check with your neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and find out how much the referees are paid for officiating a country’s premier championship match there. You will find they are given at least double the amount we are paid,” said a senior national referee.