{"id":168548,"date":"2025-06-08T21:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T21:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168548\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T21:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T21:12:08","slug":"uriah-rennie-dies-aged-65-as-tributes-flood-in-after-trailblazing-refs-death-football-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168548\/","title":{"rendered":"Uriah Rennie dies aged 65 as tributes flood in after trailblazing ref’s death | Football | Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Premier League referee Uriah Rennie has passed away aged 65 years old. Rennie took charge of over 300 matches throughout his distinguished career and made history by becoming the first-ever black Premier League official.<\/p>\n

Posting on X, Sheffield United said: “Sheffield United are saddened to learn of the passing of popular and trailblazing referee Uriah Rennie. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time.”<\/p>\n

Football commentator Alan Biggs added: “So sad to hear of Uriah Rennie\u2019s passing. Far too young. A humble, likeable man – modest with so much to be proud about as the Premier League\u2019s first black referee. Always a quiet, unflappable courage about him. Thoughts with all Uri\u2019s family & friends.”<\/p>\n

Rennie had been left paralysed from the waist down after being diagnosed with a rare condition, having felt a severe pain in his back while on holiday. Speaking to BBC News<\/a> in April 2025, he said: “I spent a month laid on my back and another four months sitting in bed.”<\/p>\n

“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. I have had to learn to move all over again, I’m retraining my legs. I can move my feet and I can stand with a frame attached to my wheelchair but I need to work on my glutes.”<\/p>\n

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