Who is Sunny Singh? The first Indian-origin referee to officiate Premier League match

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Referee Sunny Singh Gill is poised to make history in the English Premier League as he officiates the Crystal Palace versus Luton Town match at Selhurst Park.

He will be the first referee of Indian descent to preside over a Premier League game, marking a significant milestone in his career.

This season, Sunny joins a select group of referees outside PGMOL's Select Group who have been entrusted with Premier League matches, following in the footsteps of distinguished officials like Sam Allison, Sam Barrott, Bobby Madley, Josh Smith, Rebecca Welch, and Lewis Smith.

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The Singh Gill family boasts a rich legacy in football officiating. Sunny's father, Jarnail, was the pioneering English league football referee to wear a turban, overseeing 150 matches from 2004 to 2010. Additionally, his brother Bhupinder made history as the first Sikh-Punjabi Premier League assistant referee in the top-flight encounter between Southampton and Nottingham Forest in January 2023.

Sunny's passion for football dates back to his childhood, deeply ingrained by his family's love for the game. His journey began at the young age of 17 when he officiated his first Sunday League match. His father would take him and his brother Bhupinder to local tournaments, where they served as linesmen. 

“I will be emotional as a father,” said Jarnail to Indian Express.

“Seeing Sunny achieve more than what I did and there will be some tears while watching and cheering him on along with 30,000 odd fans (in the stadium).

“Both Sunny and Bhupinder were very young when they started refereeing local matches. Due to lack of life experiences, they struggled to cope with the pressure from eager parents