Akil Howson is set to become the first black official in the 154-year history of the FA Cup final, following the confirmation of the referee line-up for the prestigious match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley on May 16.
Historic appointment for Howson
Howson, who made history in August 2023 as the Premier League's first permanent black official since Uriah Rennie, will serve as an assistant referee for the final. His inclusion marks a significant milestone for diversity in football officiating, with over seven per cent of officials in professional men's and women's games now of black, Asian, or mixed heritage—a figure that has tripled since 2022.
Darren England named referee
Darren England, the referee at the centre of a major VAR controversy in the Premier League, has been appointed to officiate the final. England was involved in a high-profile error during a match between Tottenham and Liverpool in September 2023, where he mistakenly failed to overturn an offside decision against Luis Diaz. The error led to a three-month suspension from refereeing and a delayed return to VAR duties. Despite this, his performances this season have been recognised, and he previously served as fourth official in last year's FA Cup final and as an assistant in the 2015 final.
Road to the final
Manchester City secured their place in the final by coming from behind to beat Championship side Southampton, with Nico Gonzalez scoring a late winner after Jeremy Doku cancelled out Finn Azaz's opener. Chelsea reached the final by defeating fellow Premier League side Leeds United, with Enzo Fernandez scoring the only goal in the first half.
