India’s own Riiohlang Dhar has once again etched her name into football history, being selected on the FIFA Refereeing International List for 2026 and poised to make history as the first Indian match official to officiate at the AFC Women’s Champions League.
Chosen among just eight assistant referees for the 2024–25 AFC Women’s Champions League semifinals and final in Wuhan, China, Dhar’s appointment marks a major milestone for Indian football officiating on the Asian stage.
Her remarkable journey in refereeing began in 2009, when she switched from playing the sport to officiating in order to stay connected to the game she loved a choice that would define her career. Since then, she has faced years of discipline, fitness tests, travel and pressure-filled decisions, all while serving as a police officer with the Meghalaya Police, following in her father’s footsteps.
Dhar’s international credentials include officiating at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic and the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup in Indonesia, achievements that spotlight her consistency and excellence on the global stage. She was also recognised domestically as the AIFF Female Assistant Referee of the Year for the 2024–25 season. Now, as she prepares to take charge at Asia’s premier club competition, Riiohlang Dhar carries the aspirations of Indian football with her — a trailblazer inspiring many and proving that dedication, resilience and passion can elevate talent to the highest levels of the beautiful game.
