London: Sunny Singh Gill is poised to make history at Selhurst Park this Saturday as he becomes the first individual of Indian origin and British South Asian descent to referee an English Premier League fixture, featuring Crystal Palace against Luton.
The 39-year-old's remarkable journey from a career crossroads to this groundbreaking moment has been filled with dedication and family legacy.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed pride in Gill's achievement, stating, "This weekend I'll be proud to see Sunny Singh Gill taking to the pitch as the first South Asian to referee a Premier League match." Sunny's father, Jarnail Singh, was the first turbaned referee in English League football history, overseeing 150 matches between 2004 and 2010.
Football has always been a part of the Gill family's DNA.
Sunny's brother, Bhupinder, previously served as the first Sikh-Punjabi Premier League assistant referee. Despite initially aspiring to play professional football, Sunny's perspective changed after witnessing his father's refereeing exploits and understanding the unique matchday routine.
At 17, Sunny officiated his first Sunday League game but took a five-year hiatus due to the challenges of managing players on the field. An encouraging conversation with his father reignited his passion for refereeing, leading to numerous milestones, including becoming the first South Asian referee in the Championship.
Balancing a career as a prison officer and pursuing refereeing, Sunny eventually decided to focus entirely on his dream, giving up his role at Feltham Prison and Young Offender Institution. Despite the challenges, Sunny remains determined to achieve further milestones, aspiring to become the first South Asian referee in the Premier League.