Howson to be first black FA Cup final official

TL;DR

Akil Howson will be the first black official at an FA Cup final in its 154-year history, serving as an assistant referee. He previously became the Premier League's first permanent black official in 15 years in August 2023.

Key points

Akil Howson will be the first black official at an FA Cup final.
The final is part of the competition's 154-year history.
Howson became the Premier League's first permanent black official in 15 years.
Over seven percent of officials are now from diverse backgrounds.
This percentage has tripled since 2022.

Mentioned in this story

Akil Howson

FA CupChelseaManchester CityPremier League

Akil Howson is set to become the first black official at an FA Cup final in the competition's 154-year history.

Howson will be one of referee Darren England's assistants at Wembley next month when Chelsea take on Manchester City.

In August 2023, Howson became the Premier League's first permanent black official in 15 years, following Uriah Rennie.

It is a further sign of how much more diverse the pool of officials has become across the grassroots and professional game.

More than seven per cent of officials across the men's and women's professional games are now of black, Asian or mixed heritage - triple the percentage from back in 2022.

The appointment of referee England for the showpiece encounter on May 16 is recognition of his performances this season, and marks a major career milestone after a high-profile VAR error during a Premier League game between Tottenham and Liverpool in September 2023.

England mistakenly failed to overrule an on-field decision to disallow a Luis Diaz goal for offside. He did not referee a game for three months afterwards and did not return to VAR duties until April 2024.

Also See:

England, who was appointed as a Premier League referee in 2020, was the fourth official at last year's FA Cup final and an assistant at the 2015 final.

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Q&A

Who is Akil Howson and what is his significance in football officiating?

Akil Howson is a football official who will be the first black official at an FA Cup final, marking a historic milestone in the competition's history.

When will the FA Cup final featuring Akil Howson take place?

The FA Cup final, where Akil Howson will officiate, is scheduled for next month at Wembley Stadium.

What percentage of football officials are now from black, Asian, or mixed heritage backgrounds?

More than seven percent of officials across the men's and women's professional games are now from black, Asian, or mixed heritage backgrounds, which has tripled since 2022.