LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Sam Allison, the highest-ranking Black match official working in English football, will now be officiating in the Championship after dominating in Leagues One and Two last season, Sky Sports News reports.
Akil Howson will be elevated to the position of referee’s assistant in the Premier League in another high-profile hiring.
The PGMOL is scheduled to formally reveal the news later today, along with all the new posts for their “Development Group Officials,” who have been moving their way up the football pyramid.
However, this will be viewed as a significant gain for communities that are underrepresented in English professional football officiating.
Allison was in the PGMOL “National Group” before being promoted to Select Group 2.
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Howson has advanced to the highest echelon of match officials and will now serve as an assistant referee for Select Group 1, which predominantly officiates Premier League matches.
The announcement comes the same day Sky Sports announcement exclusively disclosed a new plan from the FA that is anticipated to be unveiled tomorrow and would see 1,000 new referees from various backgrounds recruited and kept at the grassroots level.
