Sam Allison set to become FIRST black referee to officiate Premier League match in over 15 years

Sam Allison will become the second black referee to officiate a Premier League game.

Sam Allison set to become FIRST black referee to officiate Premier League match in over 15 years

Sam Allison is set to take charge of Sheffield United vs Luton Town. (Via X/@Football__Tweet)

The Premier League refereeing scene is set to undergo a historic change. Just days after Rebecca Welch became the first female referee to officiate a Premier League match, another landmark decision is set to grace the league. After over 15 years, Sam Allison is set to become the first black referee to officiate a game in England’s top flight.

Sam Allison, the 42-year-old match official became the first to regulate games in England since Uriah Rennie in 2008. He was also the only one for the last three years. However, Allison’s latest appointment to officiate Sheffield United vs Luton Town comes off the back of a promise made by the PGMOL chief, Howard Webb. He made promises to diversify refereeing in England’s top tier earlier.

YouTube video

Even though the decision is a move in the right direction, proportions remain extremely skewed. Of over 300 officials in England, Sam Allison is just the second to officiate a top-tier game. Uriah Rennie, the first to do so, retired back in 2008. A statement released by BAMRef (Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage officiating group) commended the decision.

FS Video
This is the culmination of years of hard work by BAMRef. We also hope to identify more black officials in the top flight by working alongside Howard Webb.
BAMRef’s statement

Sheffield United vs Luton Town kicks off at 3:00 pm GMT.

‘Better late than never’: The case of diversity and refereeing in the Premier League

The English Premier League can laud itself as the most competitive, attractive, and difficult league in all of Europe. From Erling Haaland to Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag, the league has it all. Despite all it’s glory and praise on the global stage, many fans believe that refereeing lags significantly.

Rebecca Welch, Uriah Rennie and Sam Allison
Rebecca Welch, Uriah Rennie, and Sam Allison. (Via X/@goal, BBC & AllSportzTV)

Even though Sam Allison and Rebecca Welch give hope for a better scene in refereeing, fans believe that such decisions have been significantly delayed. A faction of supporters still believe that there is racism in the league and hence, the reason it took so long to appoint a black referee. Welch became the first-ever woman referee in the league on Saturday. She took charge of the game between Fulham and Burnley.

The fact that Allison is only the second black referee to officiate a game in the league is concerning news, as per many fans. Many have backed the 42-year-old on his ‘debut’ and follow in the footsteps of Uriah Rennie. Despite the new decision, there has also been some unrest as to why the referee was allotted a ‘low-profile’ game and not something like Manchester United vs Aston Villa or Burnley vs Liverpool.

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