Meet Riiohlang Dhar, AIFF's First Best Female Assistant Referee Winner

Riiohlang Dhar, an iconic figure in Indian football, won the ‘Best Female Assistant Referee’ award 2024-25 at the All India Football Federation’s event on May 2 in Bhubaneswar. This was the first time the AIFF introduced a female category for assistant referees. This award came just days after she was selected to officiate in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2024-25 semifinals and final in China, making her the first Indian official to feature at the prestigious continental club championship.

“I’m so glad and happy to win this award. I would like to dedicate it to my parents. Without their support, none of this would have been possible,” Dhar told The Assam Tribune. “They would've been so proud. They always came to watch me play. My father, who was a policeman, used to swap duties with his colleagues just so he could be there on the ground. Even after I stopped playing and became a referee, they would still come to watch me officiate.”

🗣️ "Happy to see women referees getting recognition!"

Riiohlang Dhar, the Female Assistant Referee of the Year, created history for India 🇮🇳 by officiating in 4⃣ matches at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup 2024 🙌#AIFFAwards2025 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/3Eu52jSDKR

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) May 2, 2025

The AIFF Best Female Referee award went to Tekcham Ranjita Devi from Manipur. Her career began in 1999 as a football player before she turned to refereeing after an illness halted her playing days in 2009. She passed her State Class III exam in 2007 and cleared National Grade II in 2016.

Riiohlang Dhar: A Journey of Dedication

Riiohlang Dhar is from Meghalaya and is known for her articulate and determined nature. Her journey in refereeing began in 2009 after she decided to transition from playing football to officiating. “After I stopped playing football, I joined a referee course in my local town and found it interesting since it kept me in touch with the game I love dearly,” she shared with The Print.

“So, I decided to take up the whistle and the flag. I have come a long way since then. I have supervised many international tournaments, but the World Cup is going to be a different experience.” Dhar is also a dedicated police official with the Meghalaya Police, following in her father's footsteps.

In August 2024, Dhar was selected as an assistant referee for the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. She was the second Indian woman to earn such an honour, following Uvena Fernandes, who officiated in the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan. The same year, Dhar also officiated at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup in Indonesia.