Veteran Singapore football referee Harpajan Singh Dhillon dies at age 90
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Harpajan Singh Dhillon died in hospital on Oct 21.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE KHALSA ASSOCIATION
SINGAPORE – Former national football captain Samad Allapitchay is a household name known for leading Singapore to two Malaysia Cup triumphs in 1977 and 1980 and his hard-tackling style as a centre-back.
However, his legendary career might never have happened if not for former Fifa referee Harpajan Singh Dhillon, who played a pivotal role in encouraging Samad to pursue football.
Samad was among those who paid tribute to the former referee, who died in hospital on Oct 21 at the age of 90.
Dhillon was the teacher in charge of football in the mid-1960s at Serangoon Garden Technical School, where Samad was a student.
Samad, 75, said: “I was good at badminton and hockey too, but Mr Dhillon told me that I will become a very good footballer who will play for the country. If not for him, I would have not put my all into football at that age.
“He was very strict as a teacher and as a coach. He would motivate us to give our all in every training. I am sad to hear that he is gone. I can say that if not for him, I would not have had the career that I had in football.”
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) paid tribute to Dhillon on Facebook and described him as a “respected and influential figure in Singapore’s refereeing fraternity.”
It added that as Singapore’s first turbaned Sikh referee, Dhillon “set a significant milestone for Singapore”.
The post added: “His exceptional accomplishments, including being one of the youngest Singaporeans to be appointed to the prestigious Fifa referee list in 1969, and officiating at major tournaments such as the World Cup qualifiers as well as Olympic Games qualifiers, reflect his dedication and passion for the sport.”
The FAS also said that throughout the 1970s, Dhillon showed his commitment to creating a safer environment for referees and ensuring fairness in the game by introducing initiatives that focused on firm but just enforcement of the rules and took the extra step of educating players on the laws of the game to foster better understanding and respect for refereeing decisions.
The FAS added: “His efforts significantly contributed to reducing confrontations with referees on the field.
“Additionally, he played a pivotal role in raising the standard of refereeing in Singapore through his mentorship and training of young referees.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Former Fifa referee T. Rajamanickam described Dhillon as a “very strict referee” but one who always represented the community well.
Rajamanickam told The Straits Times: “He was one of the most respected referees in the scene and when I became a referee in 1976, he was one of the mentors to the young referees at that time.
“We all looked up to him. He was tall as well and he had a stature that garnered everyone’s respect. He always took good care of all the referees.”
The Singapore Khalsa Association also paid tribute on its Facebook page and said that it mourns the loss of “an exceptional sportsman and a dedicated community leader”.
