The Goa Football Association and Indian Football Association, Kolkata, have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims at developing the game in the country as also popularizing it among youth.

GFA president Shivanand Salgaocar and IFA secretary Subrato Datta represented their respective associations as they signed the MoU in the presence of All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco, GFA secretary Savio Messias and East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick at Vasco, on Monday evening.

"Football is a natural activity in Goa and Bengal. The two states have come together for the development of the game," Salgaocar said in Margao, Goa.

IFA secretary Subroto Datta said both the associations will take a positive and professional approach for the development of football.

"Collaboration between Goa and West Bengal will be beneficial to soccer," Colaco said.

The understanding, operative for a period of three years and subject to review thereafter as part of the exchange programme, entails that IFA and GFA would both send any of its two boys/men's state teams (under-13, under-16, under-19 or under-21 or any other age group as decided mutually) every year to West Bengal and Goa for participating in the tournaments organised by GFA/IFA.

While all costs and expenses towards travelling will be payable by the visiting association, decent accommodation, boarding and lodging, medical expenses and local transportation would be borne and paid by the hosts.

During every football season, the IFA and GFA would ensure that at least four FIFA/national referees of each association are sent to supervise a minimum total of 10 matches at the other state, provided not more than two referees be sent at a time.

While costs and expenses towards travelling for the referees would be paid by the lending association, accommodation, medical expenses and local transportation would be borne and paid by the host association.

The hosts would be responsible for the safety and security of the referees, the MoU stated.

The host association would pay to each of the referees an honorarium of Rs 500 for conducting and supervising the matches apart from a daily allowance of Rs 200 limited to the duration of the stay.

As and when required, both IFA and GFA would hold seminars or programmes for development of youth football subject to terms and conditions mutually agreed from time to time.