On Boxing Day, Sam Allison became the second Black referee in history and the first in fifteen years to officiate in the Premier League.
The 42-year-old former firefighter officiated Sheffield United’s Boxing Day encounter against Luton Town, becoming the first Black man to do so in the top flight of English football since Uriah Rennie in 2008.
Luton won the match 3-2, and Allison was the focus of attention because Sheffield United’s second goal needed a VAR check and was declared a goal without dispute by the referee.
Before the game, BAMRef, which provides coaching, mentorship, support, and guidance to referees of Black, Asian, and mixed origin, declared: “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 (Professional Game Match Officials Board chief) to identify and progress more black officials to the top flight.”
Dan Forbes, at level four in the referee pathway and working for BAMRef, said: “It’s been a long time coming for him and it’s been a long-time ambition as well. He totally understands the pressures.
“Sam absolutely deserves to be there, he’s one of the top referees in the country and there’s no doubt Sam will deliver and fly our flag.
“We’ve also got some other top referees coming through – Lisa Rashid, Ruben Ricardo, Aji Ajibola – that deserve the opportunity.
“This is just the starting point. This is not the end. It’s huge, it’s also well overdue. The impact will be huge. If you can’t see it, it’s a lot harder to be it.”