The trailblazing official, who grew up in Sheffield, United Kingdom, was widely recognised for breaking down barriers in English football.

Uriah Rennie, the first Black Premier League referee from Jamaica, has died at the age of 65. 

The trailblazing official, who grew up in Sheffield, United Kingdom, was widely recognised for breaking down barriers in English football.

 He officiated over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008 and was once described as the "fittest" referee in world football, Sky News reports.

Earlier this year, Rennie revealed he had been left paralysed from the waist down by a rare and inoperable neurological condition. “I spent a month laid on my back and another four months sitting in bed,” he told BBC News in April.

“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.”

“No one has told me I won't walk again, but even if someone did say that I want to be able to say I did everything I could to try.”

Tributes have poured in from across the football community. The Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL) described him as “an epitome of a role model” who had been “taken from us too soon.”

PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb said: “Uri was not only a trailblazer who paved the way for many others after becoming the first black referee in the Premier League, he was a great person and a great referee who cared deeply about his community and helping people fulfil their potential.

“He was a strong influence on our refereeing group too, offering a calming presence and we shared many good times together. He will be sorely missed by us all but his legacy will live on.”

The Premier League said: “Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations.”

The Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA, where he once served as chair, posted on X: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie.

Uriah made history as the Premier League's first black referee, officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008. He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come.”

Former referee Dermot Gallagher said: “As a person he was humble, he was quiet, he was unassuming. But most importantly, he was kind.”

Another former Premier League official, Chris Foy, told talkSPORT: “He was a friend to me, a mentor to me, he was just a special person who put everybody first before himself. He was a real presence on the field and he was a real presence off the field, a true gentleman.”

Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said it was “deeply saddened” by the “heartbreaking news”, calling Rennie a “trailblazer in every sense” who “proved inspirational to many.”

Championship side Sheffield United expressed sadness over the loss of the “popular and trailblazing” referee, while Sheffield Wednesday described him as “pioneering.”

Former footballer Stan Collymore wrote on X: “Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of referee Uriah Rennie. A pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref. Rest in peace, ref.”

Rennie became a FIFA-listed referee in 2000 and joined the select group of professionals a year later. 

He retired in 2008. 

In November 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his contributions to sport and community development.