Yes. The Premier League has had two black referees take charge of matches: Uriah Rennie on 13 August 1997 and Sam Allison on Boxing Day 2023.
The two black referees to take charge of a Premier League match
Here are the two black referees who have taken charge of a Premier League match.
| Referee | First Premier League match | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Uriah Rennie | Derby County v Wimbledon | 13 August 1997 |
| Sam Allison | Sheffield United v Luton Town | Boxing Day 2023 |
Uriah Rennie: the first black referee in the Premier League
Rennie was born in Jamaica and moved to Sheffield in South Yorkshire as a child. He started refereeing in local football in 1979, joined the list of match officials in 1994 and was promoted to the Premier League in 1997.
His first Premier League game did not run to a normal finish. Derby County against Wimbledon was abandoned early in the second half because of a floodlight failure. Away from the Premier League, he also refereed the 2001 Division One play-off final between Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End, and he spent four years on FIFA's list of referees.
Rennie retired in 2008. He died at the age of 65.
Sam Allison: who came next and how he reached the league
More than 15 years passed before there was a second black referee in a Premier League match. Allison took charge of Sheffield United against Luton Town on Boxing Day 2023.
Before moving into refereeing, Allison had a playing career. He started at Swindon Town and later went on to Bristol City, AFC Bournemouth and Exeter City, with a handful of appearances for England schoolboys.
He also worked as a firefighter while officiating before switching to refereeing full time after the Elite Referee Development Plan was introduced. After his promotion in 2020, he became the fifth black referee to officiate in the English Football League, after Rennie, Trevor Parkes, Phil Prosser and Joe Ross.
The appointments before Allison's first Premier League match
Until 2020, Allison was the only black match official in the top four English divisions and the first since Rennie. His first Premier League appointment was not as referee but as fourth official for Brighton & Hove Albion against Chelsea in October 2022.
He was then promoted to the Championship for the 2023/24 season. His first Premier League match as referee was Sheffield United against Luton Town, and Luton won 3-2.
That Boxing Day appointment came three days after Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee a Premier League match.
FAQ
Who was the first black referee in the Premier League?
Uriah Rennie was the first. He took charge of Derby County against Wimbledon on 13 August 1997.
Who was Uriah Rennie?
He was the first black referee to take charge of a Premier League match. He was born in Jamaica, moved to Sheffield as a child, began refereeing in local football in 1979 and retired in 2008.
When did Sam Allison referee his first Premier League match?
It was on Boxing Day 2023. The match was Sheffield United against Luton Town, and Luton won 3-2.
Has there been another black referee in the Premier League since Rennie?
Yes. More than 15 years passed before there was a second: Sam Allison took charge of Sheffield United against Luton Town on Boxing Day 2023.