Howson Makes History As First Black Match Official In FA Cup Final

When Chelsea and Manchester City meet at Wembley Stadium on 16 May for the FA Cup final, a significant piece of football history will unfold beyond the pitch.

Akil Howson, a 35-year-old assistant referee from the Leicestershire & Rutland Football Association, will become the first black official ever to take part in the showpiece event.

Howson’s appointment marks a milestone for diversity in English football officiating. Having spent the last three seasons as a member of the Premier League’s Select Group 1, he has consistently demonstrated the skill and composure required for high-stakes matches.

His selection for the final is seen as a testament to both his individual abilities and the wider push by the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to create a more inclusive refereeing pathway.

That effort has already yielded progress elsewhere. Officials such as Farai Hallam, Ruebyn Ricardo, and Sam Allison now regularly work in the top two divisions of men’s professional football. Meanwhile, Paul Howard has advanced through an enhanced training programme and now operates steadily as a video assistant referee (VAR) in the Premier League.

The full officiating team for the final, scheduled for 16 May, will be led by referee Darren England. This will be England’s first time taking charge of an FA Cup final, though he has previous Wembley experience: he served as fourth official in the 2025 final and as an assistant referee in the 2015 final.

Tim Wood will join Howson as the second assistant referee, with Sam Barrott named as the fourth official. Peter Bankes will handle VAR duties, assisted by Nick Hopton.

For referee England – a 40-year-old from the Sheffield & Hallamshire association who was added to FIFA’s international referees list in 2022 – this appointment also carries deep personal significance. It represents a major step in his professional rehabilitation following a high-profile mistake in September 2023.

Acting as VAR during Tottenham Hotspur’s match against Liverpool, England incorrectly applied the on-field decision, leading to a Luis Díaz goal being wrongly ruled out for offside.

The error drew widespread criticism, and England did not referee another Premier League match for nearly three months. After a careful reintegration into top-flight duty, he now earns the honour of presiding over English football’s most prestigious domestic final.

As for Howson, his presence at Wembley will be watched closely – not just for his linesmanship, but for what it symbolises.

In a competition that dates back to 1871, no black official had ever been part of the on-field match crew for the final. That barrier will finally fall on 16 May.