Key Takeaways
- Akil Howson will become the first Black match official in the 154-year history of the FA Cup final.
- He will serve as assistant referee to Darren England during the Chelsea versus Manchester City clash at Wembley on May 16.
- The historic appointment comes after Howson broke barriers in August 2023 as the Premier League’s first permanent Black official since Uriah Rennie.
Next month’s FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium will feature a historic milestone for football officiating. Akil Howson has received the appointment to serve as an assistant referee when Chelsea face Manchester City on May 16. This selection makes him the first Black official to officiate in the final of this prestigious competition since its establishment 154 years ago.
Howson will support lead referee Darren England during the showpiece encounter. The Yorkshire-based official continues to break new ground in his profession. In August 2023, he became the first permanent Black referee in the Premier League for 15 years. Uriah Rennie was the last official to hold that distinction before Howson’s appointment.
The selection reflects significant progress regarding diversity within English football’s officiating ranks. Representation from Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds has grown substantially across both grassroots and professional levels. Current data indicates that more than seven per cent of officials in the men’s and women’s professional games now come from these backgrounds. This figure represents a threefold increase compared to 2022 statistics.
Darren England’s role as the main referee recognises his consistent performances throughout the current season. The appointment also marks a notable recovery in his career following a high-profile error involving Video Assistant Referee technology. During a Premier League fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in September 2023, England failed to overturn an incorrect on-field decision to disallow a goal by Luis Diaz for offside.
Following that incident, England stepped away from refereeing duties for three months. He only resumed VAR responsibilities in April 2024. The official first joined the Premier League refereeing panel in 2020. He previously gained experience at the FA Cup final as the fourth official in 2024 and as an assistant referee in 2015.