Monday, January 19, 2026

Sports

Four referees officiating match ahead of Lionel Messi's Kolkata event summoned by IFA

IANS | January 19, 2026 12:12 PM

KOLKATA: Four referees who officiated a football match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13, ahead of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi’s appearance, have come under scrutiny for allegedly doing so without prior approval from the competent authorities.

The Indian Football Association (IFA), the governing body for football in West Bengal, has summoned the four referees to appear before its internal disciplinary committee, seeking explanations for their participation in the match without obtaining mandatory permission from either the IFA or the Calcutta Referees’ Association (CRA). Sources indicated that disciplinary action may be initiated against them.

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