Cuttack: The Odisha Sports & Youth Services Department has taken initiative for the development of Referees of the state in association with Football Association of Odisha.

According to reports, two men referees and one woman referee from every district will be trained by Referee Instructors of All India Football Federation. These aspiring referees will be eligible for Cat-5 Examination.

There will be 90 candidates from Odisha. These courses will be conducted in three (3) phases, all the courses will be conducted at Bhubaneswar. The Sports & YS Deptt of Govt of Odisha will bear all the expenses for these courses. This program has been specially designed for the Ex – District & State Level Football Players of our state.

The intending candidates have been requested to Contact the District Athletic Association to apply for their candidature.

Mr Asirbad Behera (Secretary, FAO) has thanked Mr Vishal Kumar Dev I.A.S (Principal Secretary), Mr R Vineel Krishna I A S (Special Secretary, Govt Of Odisha) and the Sports & Y S Deptt of Govt of Odisha, as this noble step will certainly be highly beneficial for the Ex- Football Players of our state.