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Rebecca Welch Sam AllisonGetty
Aditya Gokhale

History makers: Rebecca Welch to become first female Premier League referee and Sam Allison first black official in 15 years

Rebecca Welch will become the Premier League's first female referee, while Sam Allison will become the first black match official in 15 years.

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  • Welch to become first female to officiate in top flight
  • Allison to become first black ref since 2008
  • Both set to take charge during festive period

  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    As announced by the FA and Premier League, Welch will be the referee for the clash between Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage on December 23. The move will ensure she becomes the first-ever female referee to officiate a game in the top division in England. Allison, on the other hand, will take over the reins of the Boxing Day clash between Sheffield United and Luton Town and become the first black official to referee a game in the Premier League since Uriah Rennie in 2008.

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  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Welch made history in April 2021 when she was assigned to officiate a Championship game and in January 2022 when she took command of a men's FA Cup match. Welch was also named the fourth official for Manchester United's 1-0 victory against Fulham. In addition to serving as a regular WSL referee, the 40-year-old made appearances at the Women's World Cup earlier this year.

    Following many seasons in the lower divisions, Allison will advance to the Premier League. At the beginning of the 2023–24 season, he received a promotion to the Championship, and he will now receive a temporary promotion to the Premier League.

  • WHAT THE PGMOL SAID:

    PGMOL head of referees Howard Webb said: "They are both part of the PGMOL development group which fast-tracks talented officials through the pathway," Webb told Sky Sports. "We have already seen three officials from the group take charge of their first Premier League games and now we have number four and five and it shows the value of that work.

    "We have not seen a female take charge of a Premier League game before so it's significant, and Sam being the first Black official with a whistle in the Premier League since Uriah Rennie. It demonstrates people can make it through the pathway from groups that are not traditionally well represented."

  • Howard WebbGETTY

    DID YOU KNOW?

    The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) is the body responsible for refereeing games in English professional football and under the leadership of former referee Howard Webb, the body has been attempting to increase diversity in officials in the top division as well as all FA tournaments.

  • WHAT NEXT FOR WELCH AND ALLISON?

    The duo will definitely be looking forward to the festive period as they will be involved during a crunch period of games around Christmas and New Year. The appointment of the two officials certainly feels like a pivotal moment and there may be more opportunities for both as the season progresses.