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Football has lost a true pioneer. Uriah Rennie, the first black referee to officiate in the Premier League, died at the age of 65.
Rennie, who officiated more than 300 professional matches, including 175 in the Premier League between 1997 and 2008, was widely respected not only by his dominant presence in the field but also by his role as trails to break racial barriers in English football officiating.
A service life and legacy
Born in Jamaica, Rennie moved to Sheffield as a child and grew up in the Wybourn area.
He began his arbitration journey in local football in 1979, climbing through the ranks to his historic debut on the upper flight in 1997 (Derby County vs Wimbledon).
The Sheffield and Hallalashire County Soccer Association, where Rennie served as president, described him as a “pioneering referee” who “broke barriers, gave shape to our football community and inspired generations to come.”
Only a few months before his death, Rennie had publicly shared his battle with a rare condition that had left him paralyzed from the waist down, and that he was bravely learning to walk again.
More than an arbitrator
Rennie was a magistrate in Sheffield since 1996, and its impact went far beyond football.
He was a passionate activist for equality, inclusion, consciousness of mental health and the approach to deprivation, particularly within the communities of southern Yorkshire.
Having a master’s degree in business administration and law, Rennie’s academic and civic achievements were also distinguished.
In November 2023, he received an honorary doctorate from the Sheffield Hallam University, recognizing his contribution of a lifetime to sport and society.
At a proud moment, he was appointed chancellor of the same university in May 2025, only weeks before his death.
Uriah Rennie will be remembered not only as the first, but as one of the best.
Rest in peace, Uriah Rennie (1959–2025).
