Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first black referee, dies aged 65

Uriah Rennie, the first black Premier League referee, has died at the age of 65.

Tributes have described the Jamaica-born official, who grew up in Sheffield, as "trailblazing" and an inspirational figure who "broke down barriers".

He started refereeing in non-league football at the end of the 1970s, working his way up the pyramid before his first Premier League appointment as Derby hosted Wimbledon in August 1997 - a match which was abandoned due to floodlight failure.

Once described as the "fittest" match official in world football, county officials said Rennie took charge of more than 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008.

Earlier this year, Rennie revealed how a rare health condition had left him paralysed from the waist down.

The Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL), which appoints officials for matches in the Premier League, EFL and FA competitions, said Rennie was "an epitome of a role model" who had been "taken from us too soon".

'His legacy will live on'

Howard Webb, the PGMOL chief refereeing officer, added: "Uri was not only a trailblazer who paved the way for many others after becoming the first black referee in the Premier League, he was a great person and a great referee who cared deeply about his community and helping people fulfil their potential.

"He was a strong influence on our refereeing group too, offering a calming presence and we shared many good times together.

"He will be sorely missed by us all but his legacy will live on."

The Premier League said: "Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations."

The Sheffield And Hallamshire County Football Association posted on X: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie.

"Uriah made history as the Premier League's first black referee, officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008. He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come."

'Most importantly, he was kind'

Former Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, told Sky Sports: "As a person he was humble, he was quiet, he was unassuming. But most importantly, he was kind."

Another ex-Premier League official, Chris Foy, said Rennie was a "true gentleman, a gentle giant" who "loved refereeing".

Foy told talkSPORT: "He was a friend to me, a mentor to me, he was just a special person who put everybody first before himself.

"He was a real presence on the field and he was a real presence off the field, a true gentleman."

Rennie was 'inspirational to many'

After Rennie's retirement, it would be more than 15 years before a second black referee took charge of a top-flight game in England when Sam Allison oversaw Sheffield United's clash with Luton on Boxing Day 2023.

Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said it was "deeply saddened" by the "heartbreaking news", adding Rennie was a "trailblazer in every sense" who "proved inspirational to many".

Championship side Sheffield United said the club was "saddened" to learn of the passing of the "popular and trailblazing" official.

He was described as "pioneering" by city neighbours Sheffield Wednesday.

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Former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore posted on X: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of referee Uriah Rennie. A pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref. Rest in peace, ref."

Rennie, who was also a martial arts expert, became a FIFA-listed referee in 2000 and joined the select group of professionals one year later, with his retirement coming in 2008.

In November 2023 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his distinguished contributions to sport and his work with South Yorkshire communities.

In April, he told BBC News how, while on holiday in Turkey last year, he felt severe pain in his back and doctors discovered he had an inoperable neurological condition that left him wheelchair-bound.

"I spent a month laid on my back and another four months sitting in bed," he said.

"They kept me in hospital until February, they found a nodule pushing on my spine and it was a rare neurological condition so it's not something they can operate on.

"No one has told me I won't walk again, but even if someone did say that I want to be able to say I did everything I could to try."

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