Referee Anojen Kanagasingam: How I overcame abuse to reach the international stage

Anojen Kanagasingam knows the importance of resilience.

The Swiss referee has reached one of the most significant milestones of his career, being named on FIFA’s list of international referees. Such appointments bring pressure, responsibility and expectation, but also confirmation that years of hard work and discipline have been worthwhile.

"I persevered a lot," Kanagasingam says. "I sacrificed a lot during my life just for football, for refereeing. To know now that I’ve been appointed for international games, I appreciate that I made those sacrifices."

Beyond professional demands, his rise has also involved overcoming abuse on the pitch – something that referees too often experience.

Kanagasingam, who appeared in our When the Line is Crossed documentary, has spoken openly about the abuse he experienced when he first started refereeing. He admits that those moments were "very tough and very difficult to cope with". But instead of letting them push him away from the game, he developed ways to protect himself, separating abuse from his identity away from the pitch

"I tried to imagine that all these moments, all this abuse, wasn’t related to me as a person, but to me as a referee," he explains. "Refereeing is a huge part of my identity, but not the only one. It’s just one part, and when I go home my family’s waiting, my loved ones, and they also give me energy and power."

Kanagasingam officiating in this year's Europa LeagueAhmad Mora/Getty Images

The importance of respect

It is a revealing insight into the emotional demands placed on referees. For those on the receiving end of abuse, those demands can be draining and isolating. Kanagasingam’s experience shows why respect matters at every level of the game and why there is still work to be done.

For him, respect does not require grand gestures, but starts with gratitude, understanding and a recognition that referees, like players and fans, are human.

"We aren’t making mistakes on purpose. I wish that spectators, players and coaches can better understand the role of a referee. To accept that we are humans that commit errors, and that errors are also a part of football."

Those difficult early experiences have shaped the referee Kanagasingam is today. Under pressure, his first responsibility is to manage himself. Only then can he manage the game.

"Emotions are part of our job. I’ve learned to become calm and analyse how I can keep my emotions under control," he explains. "If I want to control the emotions of the players, of the coaches, I have to be sure that I’m under control. I have to lead myself before I can lead others on the pitch."

Kanagasingam taking part in the CORE International programmeUEFA

Preparing to perform under pressure

That self-awareness has been matched by technical and physical development.

Kanagasingam is currently taking part in UEFA's Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) International programme, which provides guidance and mentorship for officials during their first year on the FIFA international list. He credits it with preparing him for the demands of international refereeing.

"We had some of the best instructors, coaches and fitness coaches. They allowed us to develop, progress, improve and to become better referees."

Now, as he steps onto the international stage, Kanagasingam recognises there is added pressure and responsibility, but he chooses to frame it positively.

"Pressure can also mean a privilege," he says. "The referee committee chose you as the right person for this game. For me, this is also motivation."

That sense of privilege is rooted in the same feeling that first brought Kanagasingam into refereeing: love of football. His advice to anyone considering taking up the whistle is direct.

"If you love football, you will also love refereeing," he says. "Always be authentic. Be yourself, go your way and never give up."

Discover how you could pick up the whistle through our Be a Referee! campaign.