Refereeing mistakes have become common in Indian football, frustrating fans across the country. The ongoing season of the Indian Super League (ISL) has seen several poor decisions by referees that left fans shocked and confused. Some of these decisions even played a major role in changing the outcomes of matches.
Glaring errors can have a big impact on teams, especially in a long and competitive league like the ISL. Despite fans openly criticising and expressing anger, there has been no sign of improvement in refereeing standards. Sadly, it seems unlikely that any significant changes will happen soon.
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal, Guwahati
The recent Kolkata derby, held in Guwahati due to security reasons, saw Mohun Bagan Super Giant claim a narrow 1-0 victory over arch-rivals East Bengal FC. However, it was not the game or tactical brilliance that grabbed headlines but a controversial refereeing decision that became the talk of the match.
Just before half-time, East Bengal’s PV Vishnu attempted to poke the ball, which clearly struck the arm of Mohun Bagan’s Apuia Ralte inside the penalty area. Despite East Bengal’s strong appeals, the referee, who was positioned close to the incident, waved play on. A penalty at that critical moment could have shifted the momentum for the red-and-golds, heading into the second-half, if they had managed to convert it.
Adding to the debate, a report by The Hindustan Times revealed that the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) chief refereeing officer, Trevor Kettle, defended the referee’s decision. During a virtual media briefing, he stated: “The ball hitting the arm or hand is not automatically a foul. Ralte’s arm was clearly in a natural position, and there was no deliberate intent to handle the ball. Therefore, it was not a handball.”
Hyderabad vs East Bengal, Hyderabad
A 90th-minute strike by Manoj Mohammed spoiled East Bengal’s hopes of a victory, as the match ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw. However, the real controversy unfolded in the 28th minute when East Bengal’s Cleiton Silva suffered a dangerous tackle from Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh. While attempting to clear the ball, Arshdeep’s boot struck Cleiton’s abdomen. Shockingly, the referee neither awarded a foul nor issued a booking, as Cleiton had already been flagged offside before the incident.
The tackle brought back haunting memories for many fans of the tragic incident on December 5, 2004. At the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Dempo’s Brazilian forward, Cristiano Junior, collided with goalkeeper Subrata Pal during a game and was declared dead on arrival at Hosmat Hospital.
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Mohammedan SC vs Kerala Blasters, Kolkata
Despite taking an early lead, Mohammedan SC fell to a 2-1 defeat against Kerala Blasters. However, the match took a chaotic turn as Mohammedan SC fans became furious over what they believed was a clear penalty denial. The frustration escalated with fans throwing sticks and bottles on to the pitch, while firecrackers were ignited in the stands.
The situation worsened as players from both teams were forced to leave the field temporarily while officials and staff worked to restore order. In the midst of the chaos, a fan directed verbal abuse at the referee, while another threw a bottle onto the field, further disrupting the game.
East Bengal vs Mohammedan SC, Kolkata
A nine-man East Bengal fought hard to hold off Mohammedan SC, with the match ending in a goalless draw. However, the decisions that led to East Bengal being reduced to nine players became the main talking points. In the first seven minutes, Mahesh Naorem received a yellow card for a challenge. Then, in the 27th minute, Nandhakumar Sekar was shown a red card.
Naorem, visibly frustrated with the decision, kicked a water bottle on the sidelines and was promptly given a second yellow card. As a result, East Bengal played with just nine men for over 60 minutes. Many felt that the second yellow could have been avoided, especially given the context of the game and the fact it came right after a red card.
East Bengal vs Odisha FC, Kolkata
East Bengal had a crucial home game against Odisha FC, aiming for a spot in the top six. However, the match turned controversial due to referee Tejas Nagvenkar’s failure to spot Odisha forward Mauricio’s apparent play-acting in the 42nd minute. Mauricio went down after minimal contact with Jeakson Singh’s outstretched hand. As a result, Jeakson was wrongly penalised and shown a second yellow card, reducing East Bengal to 10 men. The disadvantage proved costly, as East Bengal eventually lost the game 2-1.
Regarding the decision, Kettle acknowledged that the referee had been “deceived” by Mauricio’s actions. He stated: “Mistakes happen. The punishment could not be rescinded as it was not a direct red card. It is the same rule followed in the Premier League.”
Indian refereeing under scrutiny! With several teams facing the brunt of referee errors in the ongoing ISL season, the debate intensifies.
Here, @RohanDC98, @Rahul_01Giri, and @snehasis_95 break down some of the season’s most notable referee mistakes.#IndianFootball… pic.twitter.com/oUvlAtfYGO
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 14, 2025
Apart from the highlighted incidents, there have been several other contentious moments this season. Pulga Vidal’s red card against Mohun Bagan and the offside controversy surrounding NorthEast’s goal against Punjab grabbed headlines. Even in the recent Kolkata derby, Mohun Bagan were denied a corner despite the ball clearly deflecting off an East Bengal player. The linesman awarded a goal kick instead, leaving Mohun Bagan’s Jamie Maclaren visibly frustrated. The player even pointed out to the linesman, questioning his vision, and sarcastically referring to his glasses.
There have also been instances where referees adhered strictly to the rule book, making decisions that, while technically correct, could have been reconsidered given the context of the game. These moments often leave fans and players debating whether a bit of discretion could have better suited the flow of the match.
Way Forward
The implementation of technologies like VAR could be the most straightforward solution to reduce refereeing errors. However, for the AIFF, implementing VAR poses significant challenges, primarily due to financial constraints. While human errors in officiating are understandable to some extent, blatant blunders cannot be overlooked. To minimise such mistakes, grassroots development of referees in India is essential. Refereeing cannot remain a part-time profession; it must be treated as a serious, full-time career.
For this to happen, the AIFF needs to intensify its efforts in training, development, and providing adequate support to referees. The ISL was established with the goal of improving all aspects of Indian football, including officiating, as referees are a vital part of the sport and key stakeholders in the game. However, the harsh reality is that expecting world-class refereeing in a country placed 126th in FIFA rankings probably is a pipedream.
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