Pioneering Premier League referee Uriah Rennie, the first black official to work in the English top flight, has passed away at the age of 65.
Born in Jamaica, Rennie grew up in Sheffield and went on to officiate over 300 matches in the Premier League. His breakthrough appointment came in August 1997 for the game between Derby and Wimbledon, although that fixture was notably abandoned due to floodlight failure.
The Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association paid tribute to their former chair and the historic referee. In a statement, they acknowledged Rennie made history as the league`s first black referee, officiating between 1997 and 2008. They added that he “broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come,” sending their thoughts to his family and friends.
Rennie achieved FIFA-listed status in 2000 and joined the select group of professional referees in the Premier League a year later.
In a recent interview, Rennie spoke about battling a serious health issue. He revealed that while on holiday in Turkey the previous year, he experienced severe back pain. Doctors later diagnosed him with a rare, inoperable neurological condition that resulted in him becoming wheelchair-bound.
Recounting his experience, he said he spent months recovering, explaining: “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.”
Tributes have also come from figures within football. Former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore posted on social media, calling Rennie “A pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref.” Sheffield`s two major clubs, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, also expressed their condolences, stating their thoughts were with his friends and family.
At the time of his passing, Uriah Rennie served as the honorary president of Sheffield-based non-league club Hallam FC.
