Uriah Rennie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Uriah Denzel Rennie (born Sheffield, South Yorkshire) made footballing history as the first black referee to officiate in the English FA Premier League.

Like many high-profile referees in top-flight football, Rennie has been guilty of the odd blunder. During a 2003 FA Premier League match between Southampton F.C. and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton striker Kevin Phillips tripped on the ball in the Wolves penalty area with no defenders near him, yet Rennie awarded a penalty to Southampton and stuck firmly to his decision in spite of vehement protests from Wolverhampton's players. James Beattie stepped up and scored, with Southampton gong on to win 2-0.

In Newcastle United's first home game of the 1999/2000 season Rennie red-carded Newcastle Captain Alan Shearer for an alleged foul on Aston Villa's Ian Taylor. Taylor said afterwards he was totally bemused by the decision and television replays showed no contact. (Villa eventually won the game with a late goal.) The match was forgotton as a spectacle, as the 36,000 home fans vented their fury at Rennie as they jeered and whistled him for the second half. It was nearly 2 years before Rennie refereed another Newcastle home game and when he did, the club was forced to employ security and extra police for Rennie's return to St James Park, where he was promptly barracked by the home fans once again

In November 2006, Rennie was mentioned in a remark by a stadium announcer (Adam Catterall) at a Football League Championship match between Preston North End and Crystal Palace. It was announced over the tannoy as the teams came back onto the pitch after half time; "Welcome to the second half of the Uriah Rennie show" in response for Rennie not giving two penalty descsions in favour of Preston.

One of Rennie's most harshest critics has been Birmingham football commentator Tom Ross who has had something of a running feud with Rennie, often referring to him as "Chief Muppet Referee" in his commenatries for the West Midlands radio station 96.4 BRMB. Ross has also accused Rennie of continously ruining the entertainment of football fans by believing his own perfomance in the middle of the park is why fans come to watch, one such critisim of Rennie being;

"He is the worst referee in the English game. He has made so many blunders it is ridiculous. He is a joke to the referees association and continues to humiliate them week in week out."

Rennie has to date not responded to Ross's criticisms personally, but continues to receive due credit for paving the way for other ethnic minorities to take up different roles within the game, and has also refereed the 'Varsity' football final between Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University.