Key Takeaways
- Akil Howson will serve as assistant referee in the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City on 16 May.
- He becomes the first black official to work in the showpiece match in the competition’s history.
- Darren England will referee the final, marking his return to the biggest stage after his VAR error in 2023.
The Football Association has announced that Akil Howson will make history at Wembley Stadium next month. The 35-year-old will become the first black match official to take part in an FA Cup final. He will work as an assistant referee when Chelsea clash with Manchester City on 16 May.
Darren England will take charge of the match as the main referee. This marks his first appointment to the centre of the pitch for this prestigious fixture. He has worked at previous finals in other roles.
Howson represents the Leicestershire and Rutland Football Association. He has worked in the Premier League’s Select Group 1 for the past three seasons. His colleagues for the final will include Tim Wood as the second assistant and Sam Barrott as the fourth official.
Peter Bankes will handle the video assistant referee (VAR) duties. Nick Hopton will assist him in the VAR room.
The appointment forms part of wider efforts to increase diversity among match officials. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMO) is working to open pathways for referees from different backgrounds. Farai Hallam, Ruebyn Ricardo and Sam Allison now referee matches in the Premier League and Championship. Paul Howard has also advanced through special training to become a regular VAR operator in the top flight.
For England, this final represents a major step in his career recovery. The 40-year-old made a serious mistake during a match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in September 2023. While working as the VAR, he wrongly disallowed a goal by Luis Diaz for offside. He did not referee a Premier League match for nearly three months after this incident. The official from Sheffield and Hallamshire returned to duty gradually. He joined FIFA’s international list in 2022.
Now England will lead the biggest domestic match in English football.