Flying the flag for ref justice

HOWSON STEPS UP AS WEBB PROMISES MORE BLACK OFFICIALS IN TOP FLIGHT

- DARREN LEWIS

HOWARD WEBB intends to end the 15-year wait for a second Black referee in the Premier League.

It comes as the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed Leicester official Akil Howson as an assistant referee in the top flight for the upcoming season.

Sam Allison, who impressed in Leagues One and Two last season, will move up to the Championship.

But the 14 officials in the next batch of development group referees are all white.

Although 40 percent of the Premier League's players are Black, Uriah Rennie remains the only Black man ever to take charge of a top-flight game. His last match was in 2008.

Webb, who heads up the PGMOL, was warmly received by the country's Black and Mixed Heritage Referees (BAMRef) after backing calls for better representation on the pitch and on the board.