REFEREE Sam Allison is set to make history by becoming the first Black official in the Premier League after 15 years.
Allison will take charge of Sheffield United vs Luton Town on Boxing Day at Bramall Lane as PGMOL chief Howard Webb delivers on his summer pledge to diversify top-flight refereeing.
Until three years ago, the 42-year-old was the only Black ref in the top four English divisions and the first since Uriah Rennie in 2008.
This comes at a time when out of almost 300 referees in England, the number of non-white officials is still in single figures.
And Allison’s recent appointment sees him becoming only the second Black ref to officiate a Premier League match after Rennie.
BAMRef (the Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage refereeing group) issued the following statement: “We welcome this appointment.
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“It is a further step in the right direction towards refereeing reflecting society and the playing contingent within football.
“It is also the culmination of years of hard work by BAMRef members.
“We hope to work with Howard Webb to identify and progress more black officials to the top flight.”
Allison is not the only history-making appointment by the PGMOL as Rebecca Welch will also become the first female referee to take charge of a Premier League game.
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Welch will officiate the Prem match between Fulham and Burnley on December 23 at Craven Cottage.
The 40-year-old also previously became the first woman to referee a men’s Championship game in January.
She then made history in November too as the first woman to be involved in a Premier League match in a refereeing capacity.
Welch served as the fourth official in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Fulham again at Craven Cottage.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
