Referee — Centre & Assistant

NECL referees are held to the same standards as the top state and national competitions. You will be paid on time, treated professionally, briefed thoroughly, and reviewed transparently.

Our aim over Season 1 is to build a North-East referee cohort strong enough to graduate officials into I-League, ISL and international lists.

• Officiate NECL matches as centre referee, assistant referee or fourth official as assigned.
• Attend all pre-season and mid-season referee workshops.
• Complete post-match reports and match incident forms within 24 hours.
• Maintain FIFA fitness test standards throughout the season.
• Participate in referee review sessions and video debriefs.

• Active AIFF referee licence (State or National panel).
• Minimum 3 senior competitive seasons officiated.
• Current FIFA fitness certification or equivalent physical standard.
• Clean disciplinary record.
• Availability across weekend matchdays throughout the season.

• AFC referee panel or elite panel status.
• Prior experience in I-League, I-League 2 or Hero Super Cup.
• Experience with VAR or referee assistance technology.

Multi-state — assigned per matchday

• Match assignments across NECL host venues in all eight North-East states.
• Travel, stay and per-diem covered for every appointment.
• Referees are assigned in respect of neutrality rules — never to fixtures involving your home state team.
• Mandatory pre-season and mid-season workshop attendance in Guwahati.

Role-specific

• AIFF-aligned match fee plus full travel, stay and per-diem.
• Structured video review and mentorship from senior officials.
• Priority nomination for AIFF National Panel and AFC courses.
• Season-end awards for top-rated NECL officials.

Every NECL role also includes

• All-access matchday pass for NECL Season 1 across every host city
• Annual NECL merchandise kit and player-tunnel drops
• Health insurance for you and one dependent (full-time roles)
• Learning stipend for football, media or engineering certifications
• Domestic travel and stay covered for on-ground work
• Direct exposure to AIFF, state associations, brand partners and broadcasters
• Founding-team equity conversations for select senior full-time hires
• A culture that treats football as craft, not content

1. 1
   Application review

   Our people team reads every application within 7 working days. If your background fits, we reach out on email to schedule a call.

2. 2
   Intro conversation

   A 30-minute video call with the hiring manager to understand your motivations, your football story and how you like to work.

3. 3
   Craft round

   A short, paid take-home or on-site exercise built around a real NECL problem — no trick questions, no unpaid pitch decks.

4. 4
   Final round & offer

   Meet 2–3 people from leadership and cross-functional teams, then a decision and written offer within 5 working days.