Mechievilie Yashü
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 17
Mechievilie Yashü, the first national referee from Nagaland, has now also become the first from the state to be listed to officiate within the I-League structure.
Yashühas been appointed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as a match official for the upcoming I-League 3, scheduled to be held in Imphal, Manipur, from April 27 to May 6, 2026.
Announcing the news, the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) also congratulated Yashüon his latest achievement. “Congratulations to Mechievilie Yashüon another milestone reached in his journey as a football referee...Proud of our bright shining light and forerunner in the field of football refereeing,” the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) wrote on April 16.
The I-League 3 is the fourth-tier league in Indian football. It acts as the qualifiers for the I-League 2, comprising 25 clubs nominated by member associations based on their performances in the state leagues.The 25 teams are divided into five groups of five each. Each group is played in a centralised venue in a single round-robin format. The group winners and runners-up qualify for the Play-offs, as per the AIFF website.
Reacting to the appointment, Yashü expressed both surprise and gratitude. “To be honest, this came as a pleasant surprise to me. I was not expecting this opportunity, so I feel truly grateful and thank God for this blessing,” Yashu told The Morung Express.
Acknowledging the assignment as a big step in his career, he shared that the tournament would be a key assessment opportunity that could open the way for further progression in his refereeing career. Yashüalso highlighted the need for more institutional support for referees in Nagaland, noting that officials can benefit from more structured assistance.
Before leaving on April 25 for the tournament, Yashü said he is focusing on maintaining the physical standards required for officiating at a competitive level. “I am currently working on my fitness to ensure I can officiate the tournament at the highest level,” he added.
Over the years, Yashu has officiated in several prestigious AIFF tournaments, including the 79th National Football Championship (Santosh Trophy) 2025–26, Dr. T Ao Junior Girls’ NFC 2025–26, 30th Senior Women’s NFC for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2025–26, AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League 2024–25, Sub-Junior Boys’ NFC 2024–25, Junior Boys’ NFC for BC Roy Trophy 2024–25, the 11th All India Chief Minister’s Gold Cup Football Tournament in Sikkim (2026), and the recently held All India Police Meet 2026.
