In a groundbreaking 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 on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.
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 secured in August 2023, following in the footsteps of Uriah Rennie. The increasing diversity among officials is a notable trend, with over seven percent of officials in the men's and women's professional games now identifying 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 testament to his impressive performance this season and marks a significant career milestone, particularly after a high-profile VAR error during a Premier League match between Tottenham and Liverpool in September 2023. England's mistake led to a three-month hiatus from refereeing and a delayed return to VAR duties in April 2024. With a career spanning several years, including his appointment as a Premier League referee in 2020, England has also had the distinction of serving as the fourth official at the previous year's FA Cup final and as an assistant at the 2015 final.