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

First black Premier League referee Rennie dies aged 65

Uriah Rennie, who made history as the Premier League’s first Black referee, has died at the age of 65.

Rennie officiated more than 300 matches across English football between 1997 and 2008, including 175 Premier League games. His career in top-flight football began with the Derby County vs Wimbledon match in 1997.

The Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association paid tribute, stating:

“Uriah made history as the Premier League’s first Black referee… He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come.”

Born in Jamaica and raised in the Wybourn area of Sheffield, Rennie began refereeing local football in 1979 and steadily rose through the ranks. In recent months, he had spoken publicly about learning to walk again after being left paralysed from the waist down due to a rare condition.

Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List, said:

“Incredibly sad news… We owe so much to those who push open the doors. Uriah should never, ever be forgotten.”

Off the pitch, Rennie was equally impactful. He served as a magistrate in Sheffield since 1996, held a master’s degree in business administration and law, and actively worked to promote equality, mental health, and anti-poverty efforts in South Yorkshire.

In November 2023, Sheffield Hallam University awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to sport and society. Just this May, he was appointed as the university’s chancellor.

Rennie’s legacy lives on through the many doors he opened and the lives he touched — in football and far beyond.