Uriah Rennie, the Premier League’s first black referee, has died aged 65.

Rennie officiated more than 300 games between 1997 and 2008, including 175 Premier League matches.

Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said Rennie was “a trailblazer in every sense”, adding: “He will always be a Premier League legend by becoming its first black referee, providing leadership, talent and visibility that proved inspirational to many.

“Uriah played a massive role in shaping the game as we know it today. Football should always be grateful to him.”

The Premier League said: “Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations.”

Rennie recently revealed he was learning to walk again after a rare condition left him paralysed from the waist down.

Born in Jamaica, he moved to Sheffield as a child and grew up in the Wybourn area of the city.

He started refereeing in local football in 1979 before making history in 1997 when he oversaw a top-flight match between Derby County and Wimbledon.

“Incredibly sad news about the passing of Uriah Rennie. A Black pioneering referee and leader in the game,” said Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List.

“We owe so much to those who push open the doors. Uriah should never, ever be forgotten.”

Rennie had been a magistrate in Sheffield since 1996 and campaigned on issues including improving equality and inclusion in sport, mental health and tackling deprivation.

He had a master’s degree in business administration and law and, in November 2023, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his distinguished contributions to sport and his work with South Yorkshire communities.

In May, Rennie was installed as the new chancellor of the university.

Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association, external described their former chair as a “trailblazing referee” who “broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come.”

Source: BBC

Portugal beat neighbours Spain in a penalty shootout to settle a frantic final in Munich and win their second Nations League trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo pulled Portugal level at 2-2 in the 61st minute, but there was nothing else to separate the two sides when the referee signalled the end of normal time.

Subbed off before extra time, Portugal captain Ronaldo dropped to the turf and sobbed tears of joy on the sidelines after Ruben Neves slotted home the winning penalty following Diogo Costa’s save from Alvaro Morata’s spot-kick.

Winners of the 2023 edition, Spain had opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Martin Zubimendi poked home after Portugal failed to clear their lines.

Their lead was short-lived as Nuno Mendes slammed a low, angled strike past Unai Simon and into the far corner of the net five minutes later.

Mikel Oyarzabal, who netted a late winner in last summer’s European Championship final against England, restored La Roja’s advantage before the break.

But Ronaldo came to Portugal’s rescue as he shrugged off Marc Cucurella to reach Mendes’ deflected cross and hook a volley in from close range.

Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all calmly fired their penalties home before Morata’s weak effort was stopped by Costa.

And as Neves converted the final spot-kick, Portugal became the first team to win two Nations League titles – denying Spain, who were vying for the same honour.

Source: BBC

Luciano Spalletti has announced his own sacking as Italy’s head coach at a news conference on Sunday after his side lost 3-0 to Norway in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Italy conceded three first-half goals in Oslo to fall to defeat in their opening qualifier for the 2026 tournament

The 66-year-old said he would still take charge of Monday’s game against Moldova, but it will be his last with the national team.

“Last night we were very together with president [Gabriele] Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,” said Spalletti.

“I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I’ll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we’ll resolve the contract.”

The Italian, who eventually stormed out of the news conference, has been in charge since 2023 and led the team at Euro 2024 where Italy were knocked out in the last 16 by Switzerland.

Spalletti, who has managed Napoli, Inter Milan and Roma in Serie A, has taken charge of 23 matches as Azzurri head coach and won just 11.

Italy are in Group I of Uefa World Cup qualifying alongside Norway, Moldova, Estonia and Israel.

“I’ll be there tomorrow night against Moldova,” added Spalletti. “These are the results under my management and I have to take responsibility.

“I love this shirt, this job and the players I’ve coached. Tomorrow night I’ll ask them to demonstrate what I asked even if I haven’t been able to get them to express their best.”

Source: BBC

At long last, Paris Saint-Germain have their hands on the big one.

After a string of embarrassing Champions League debacles, PSG fans had come to despair of ever winning the biggest trophy in European club football.

When victory finally came on a balmy night in Munich, it proved almost too easy, with a thumping 5-0 defeat of three-time winners Inter Milan – the widest margin of victory in the competition’s 70-year history.

PSG’s astonishing triumph caps a rollercoaster journey that began in 2010 with a lunch at the Élysée Palace attended by Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari emir whose tiny gas-rich country was poised to change European club football forever.

Fifteen years, several billion euros, and some notorious Champions League fiascos later, the team owned by Qatar Sports Investments are finally at the apex of the sport. 

It’s been a steep learning curve for the Parisian upstarts, who had to first ditch their ‘Galactico’ delusions before finding the winning formula.

On paper, the team that triumphed in Munich was PSG’s least eye-catching in years, stripped of the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, the frustratingly inconsistent poster boy for the club’s “bling-bling” era.

But it was also their most accomplished – and in no small measure.

In two years at the helm, coach Luis Enrique has transformed PSG from an assortment of overpriced soloists to a youthful, cohesive and tactically disciplined unit that has delivered some of the most entertaining football this season.

Source: France 24

Erik ten Hag is on the brink of agreeing a deal to replace Xabi Alonso as manager of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Ten Hag has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in October.

The Dutchman has received a number of offers but opted to stay out of the game until this summer.

Earlier this month sources close to Ten Hag told BBC Sport the former Ajax boss was preparing to return at the beginning of July and was willing to assess any suitable offer.

Alonso, who is expected to replace the outgoing Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager, has quit Leverkusen after leading the club to their first Bundesliga title in 2024 in an unbeaten league campaign.

Leverkusen also completed a domestic double last season, beating Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final.

Although the club has not been able to maintain the same high standards this season, they still managed to finish second to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Ten Hag has experience of German football after spending two years in charge of Bayern Munich’s second team from 2013.

The 55-year-old won the FA Cup and League Cup in his two full seasons as United boss, finishing third in the Premier League in 2022-23.

However, although United kept faith with him after extended deliberation in the wake of last season’s surprise FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, he was sacked on 28 October following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.

Source: BBC