Laura Kanor has taken an unexpected step off the court, by picking up the whistle herself. According to Ouest-France, the Brest Bretagne Handball star recently made her debut as a referee in an amateur match in France.
The French international, who usually competes in the Champions League, officiated her first game in Plouagat after completing a short federal training programme. As reported by Ouest-France, Kanor has long been curious about refereeing and wanted to experience the game from a different perspective.
“I’ve always wanted to do it,” Kanor explained, admitting she had planned to take the course together with her sister, but scheduling conflicts made that impossible. Known for her competitive edge on court, she is also someone who “often complains about referees”, making the move even more notable, according to Ouest-France.
Her debut came in a French N2 women’s match, where her performance was well received by the players. Back at Brest, teammates have already given her a new nickname – “Madame l’arbitre” – after she missed a training session earlier this season to attend the refereeing camp.
Balancing elite handball with amateur officiating may be unusual, but Kanor’s initiative offers a rare glimpse into a player crossing the line to understand the game from both sides.