The second Hero ISL Referee Workshop conducted by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) at Beverly Park in Navi Mumbai concluded on April 28. The three-day long work was attended by referees and assistant referees affiliated with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Col. Goutam Kar, AIFF director of referees, spoke to indiansuperleague.com about what the workshop hopes to achieve. Here are the excerpts from the interview.Have you seen progress since last year’s workshop?For last two years we are working with the PGMOL. And we appreciate their cooperation and collaboration with the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). We are conducting this course and the referees are getting more exposed to our level of training and they’re performing better and confidently.What are the most important qualities that a referee must have?Firstly, they need to understand the management part of a game. At the level of refereeing, we do not teach the laws of the game, we only polish them. Teaching them quick decision-making, analytical skill, which in turn improves their management with coaches and players.What are your expectations from this workshop?My aim is to see them perform better and become more confident when they return for the next season starting July 1 onwards. Having high expectations, I hope they come into notice amongst other countries through live television broadcasting.Do you see any Indian referees plying their trade abroad?Right now, some are already out of the country and have been appointed at the Asian Football Confederation. They could not attend this workshop but will be here for the next course.
