In a landmark moment, Akil Howson is poised to make history as the first black official to participate in an FA Cup final, marking a significant milestone in the competition's 154-year history. Howson has been selected as one of the assistant referees for the highly anticipated match between Chelsea and Manchester City, scheduled to take place at Wembley on May 16. This achievement comes on the heels of Howson's appointment as the Premier League's first permanent black official in 15 years, a position he assumed in August 2023, following in the footsteps of Uriah Rennie. The growing diversity among officials is a testament to the progress made across both grassroots and professional levels of the game.
Currently, over seven per cent of officials in the men's and women's professional leagues identify as black, Asian, or of mixed heritage, representing a threefold increase from 2022. The selection of referee Darren England to oversee the FA Cup final is a recognition of his outstanding performance this season and marks a significant career milestone. England's career has seen its share of challenges, including a high-profile VAR error during a Premier League match between Tottenham and Liverpool in September 2023, which led to a three-month hiatus from refereeing and a delayed return to VAR duties in April 2024. England, who began his tenure as a Premier League referee in 2020, has previously served as the fourth official in the FA Cup final and as an assistant referee in the 2015 final.