Kolkata, Feb 23 (Agency) In a major boost to refereeing in India, Venkatesh Ramachadran has been selected as AFC Elite Men Referees Panel 2022, having completed 4 years in the AFC Referee Academy successfully. “I feel very happy at this moment and I thank each and everyone who supported and helped to reach this level. Refereeing is my life and this achievement means a lot to me,” the All India Football Federation quoting Venkatesh as saying.
Venkatesh who hails from Chennai was a chemical engineer in his early days. But the love for football and passion for refereeing prompted him to make the switch and pursue his dreams. “I used to be a football player since childhood. I did my graduation in Chemical Engineering and served a year in the chemical industry. Thereafter, I undertook physical education in an effort to become a referee,” he informed. “To reach this level, it took me 12 years.
The last four years in the AFC Referee Academy has helped immensely. The four years consist of introductory, intermediate and advanced courses, where FIFA and AFC top instructors guided me to improve my technical, physical and psychological ability,” he informed. “I would like to thank AFC and AIFF for their continuous support, and trust.” Venkatesh started his career in 2009 and has officiated in matches on the domestic front in the Hero I- League (2015- 2020), Hero ISL (2016 – 2022), Hero Super Cup (2016), Hero Santhosh Trophy (2014), Durand Cup (2019), and Hero Inter Continental Cup (2019). Venkatesh has also won AIFF Best Referee Award in the year 2019 and the AIFF Professional Referee award in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively.