“Seeing a Muslim on the television, or at a live game, will hopefully strive to highlight to other young children, both Muslim and non‑Muslim, to feel as though there are no barriers to them being involved in the professional game,” the assistant referee Abbas Khan says when asked about being a role model for the next generation of match officials who are Muslim.
“A large part of my religion is to serve my community and becoming a match official is an incredible opportunity to do that.”
