Shillong: Meghalaya‘s Riiohlang Dhar has once again been selected for the FIFA Refereeing International List for 2026, reaffirming her standing among the top football match officials in the country.
The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Referee Department communicated her selection to the Meghalaya Football Association on December 31.
A FIFA-level assistant referee, Dhar has officiated at several international tournaments over the years. She created history in 2024 by becoming only the second Indian match official to officiate at a World Cup, serving at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. The same year, she was also appointed as an official for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup.
In recognition of her consistent performances, Dhar was named the AIFF Female Assistant Referee of the Year for the 2024–25 season in May 2025. Later, in December, she was among 40 individuals honoured for their contributions to football in Meghalaya at a Meghalaya Football Association awards ceremony, held to mark the launch of the association’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
A serving policewoman with the Meghalaya Police, Dhar continues to balance her professional duties with a distinguished refereeing career on the international stage.
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Riiohlang said that refereeing had been a part of her life since 2009. After she stopped playing football, she enrolled in a referee course in her local town and found it interesting, as it allowed her to stay connected to the game she loved dearly.
