Akil Howson to make history as first black FA Cup final official

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Akil Howson

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Akil Howson will become the first black official to take part in an FA Cup final when Chelsea face Manchester City next month.

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The 35-year-old assistant referee, who is attached to the Leicestershire & Rutland Football Association, has been appointed to the match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 16 May.

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Darren England has been named as the referee for the final – his first time officiating English football’s showpiece occasion. England previously served as the fourth official in the 2025 FA Cup final and as an assistant referee in the 2015 final.

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Tim Wood will act as the second assistant referee, while Sam Barrott has been selected as the fourth official. Peter Bankes will take charge of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties, assisted by Nick Hopton.

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Howson has been a member of the Premier League’s Select Group 1 for the past three seasons.

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The appointment comes as the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMO) continues efforts to diversify the refereeing pathway. Other black and minority ethnic officials such as Farai Hallam, Ruebyn Ricardo, Sam Allison, and Paul Howard have also made significant progress in recent years, with several now operating regularly in the Premier League and Championship.

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For Darren England, the appointment marks an important milestone. The 40-year-old Sheffield & Hallamshire official was added to FIFA’s international referees list in 2022 and has steadily rebuilt his career at the highest level.

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The 2026 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City will be played at Wembley Stadium on 16 May, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00pm.

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