Uriah Rennie, the inaugural Black referee in the Premier League, has sadly passed away at the age of 65, as announced by the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association on Sunday.
Born in Jamaica and raised in Sheffield, Rennie made history in 1997 when he officiated a Premier League match between Derby County and Wimbledon. Over his career, he oversaw more than 300 matches, including 175 in the English top tier.
“Uriah was a groundbreaking figure as the first Black referee in the Premier League, and his legacy will endure, inspiring generations to come,” the Premier League stated in a release on Monday.
Rennie hung up his whistle in 2008, with a gap of 15 years before another Black referee, Sam Allison, officiated a Premier League match, which saw Sheffield United take on Luton Town in 2023.
In April, Rennie shared with the BBC that he was in the process of learning to walk again after being left paralysed from the waist down due to a rare medical condition.
“It’s incredibly sad to learn of Uriah Rennie’s passing. A true pioneer, a trailblazer, and an outstanding referee,” former England and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore commented on social media.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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