Uriah Rennie, the first Black referee in the Premier League and a former FIFA official, has passed away at the age of 65.
The Football Association confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday, expressing deep sorrow:
“The FA Refereeing Department is saddened to hear of the passing of former FIFA and Premier League referee, Uriah Rennie. Uriah will forever be remembered as a true trailblazer of the game. Our thoughts are with Uriah’s family and friends at this time.”
Rennie made history in English football, becoming the Premier League’s first Black referee and officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008. His debut came in a match between Derby County and Wimbledon.
His passing comes just weeks after he was appointed Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University. Recently, he had publicly spoken about his struggle with a rare condition that left him temporarily paralysed from the waist down.
Rennie leaves behind a legacy of breaking barriers and inspiring future generations in football and beyond.
