Premier League’s First Black Referee, Uriah Rennie, Dies at 65

Uriah Rennie, the first Black referee to officiate in the English Premier League, has died at the age of 65. His death was announced on Sunday by the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association, where he once served as Chair.

Rennie, born in Jamaica and raised in Sheffield, made history in 1997 when he took charge of a Premier League match between Derby County and Wimbledon. Over the course of his career, he officiated more than 300 matches, including 175 games in England’s top flight.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former Chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie,” the association said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Uriah’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Rennie retired in 2008, and it took another 15 years before a Black referee again officiated in the Premier League — when Sam Allison took charge of the Sheffield United vs Luton Town match in 2023.

Just months before his death, Rennie revealed in an interview with the BBC that he had been left paralysed from the waist down due to a rare medical condition and was relearning how to walk.

Tributes poured in from across the football world. Former England international Stan Collymore described him as a pioneer and a top-class official.

“Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of referee Uriah Rennie,” Collymore wrote. “A pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref. Rest in peace, Ref.”