Footballers, coaches and referees participating in the on-going seventh National Football League are being covered under a novel insurance scheme.

In a first-time effort, the All-India Football Federation has decided to insure not only the NFL players, but also team coaches and referees against injuries and accidents.

The insurance scheme, introduced in association with United India Assurance company, offers to reimburse up to Rs.50,000 in case of hospitalisation, AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said.

Dasmunshi said the insurance amount would be higher if injury or accident incapacitated a covered person.

"The amount for invalidity assurance would depend on the nature of the damage as mentioned in the medical report," Dasmunshi said. Such a victim could get in excess of Rs 100,000.

The AIFF would pay the premium for the enmasse insurance cover.

Besides announcing the benevolent scheme, Dasmunshi also said that every man-of-the-match of the NFL games would be awarded Rs.5,000. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation will sponsor the prize.

The AIFF has also decided to introduce random dope testing for players from the second phase of the NFL. AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco said norms accepted by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation would be followed for the tests.