Historic: South Asian Referee TO Officiate Premier League Game

Sunny Singh Gill is set to make history as the first referee of British-South Asian descent to officiate a Premier League match. The groundbreaking announcement reveals that he will oversee the match between Crystal Palace and Luton Town at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

This milestone places Gill in a distinct position, as he becomes the seventh referee operating outside the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The notable referees within PGMOL include Sam Allison, Sam Barrott, Bobby Madley, Josh Smith, Rebecca Welch, and Lewis Smith.

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For Gill, this upcoming match represents a monumental moment not only in his own career but also for the British South Asian community at large. Previously, in 2021, at the age of 17, Gill officiated a match between Nottingham Forest and Bristol City. Notably, his brother Bhupinder also officiated alongside him in that game, marking the first instance of a pair of British South Asians officiating a championship match simultaneously.

Sunny Gill’s aspirations of becoming the first British South Asian referee in the Premier League are now on the verge of realization. Expressing his dedication and hard work, Gill acknowledged the support received from the PGMOL and his coaches in refining his skills both on and off the pitch.

He reflected on the journey, stating, “It’s been a lot of hard work training away from the pitch, improving in every department with the help of the PGMOL and my coaches. I now want to set more goals and fulfill my dream of becoming the first South Asian to referee in the Premier League.” This achievement is not only a personal triumph for Gill but also a significant step toward increased diversity and representation in elite football officiating.