• Uriah Rennie, Premier League's first Black referee, has died at the age of 65.
• He officiated over 300 matches, including 175 in the top flight.
• Rennie was diagnosed with a rare condition, leading to paralysis, before his death.
• He was remembered as a trailblazer and inspiration in football.
• Rennie's debut was in 1997, officiating a match abandoned due to lighting issues.

Uriah Rennie, renowned as the first Black referee in the Premier League, has passed away at the age of 65, the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association announced on Sunday. Rennie made history in 1997 when he officiated a match between Derby County and Wimbledon, ultimately overseeing over 300 matches throughout his career, including 175 in the Premier League according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association expressed their condolences, stating, "Uriah made history as the Premier League's first Black referee, breaking down barriers, shaping our football community, and inspiring generations to come," reflecting on the impact he had on the sport according to India Times and Reuters.

Rennie's career faced significant challenges, particularly when he revealed in April that he was learning to walk again after being left paralyzed from the waist down due to a rare condition. Former England and Liverpool player Stan Collymore described him as "a pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref" on social media, denoting the deep respect within the football community for Rennie's contributions according to Channel News Asia and India Times.