(Reuters) -Uriah Rennie, the first Black referee in the Premier League, has died aged 65, the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association said on Sunday.
Jamaican-born Rennie, who grew up in Sheffield, made history in 1997 when he refereed a Premier League match between Derby County and Wimbledon. He went on to officiate in over 300 games - including 175 in England's top flight.
"As the first Black referee in the Premier League, Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations," the Premier League said in a statement on Monday.
Rennie retired in 2008 and 15 years passed before another Black official took charge of a Premier League game, Sam Allison refereeing Sheffield United against Luton Town in 2023.
In April, Rennie told the BBC he was learning to walk again after being left paralysed from the waist down by a rare condition.
"Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of referee Uriah Rennie. A pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref," former England and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore wrote on social media.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford and Ed Osmond)
