Match officials Allison and Howson earn promotion

Sam Allison, the highest-ranked Black match official working in English football, will now be refereeing in the Championship, after excelling in Leagues One and Two last season, Sky Sports News can reveal.

Another high-profile appointment will see Akil Howson promoted to being a referee's assistant in the Premier League.

Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), who organise referees and assistants at the elite level are due to announce the news officially later today.

They are also expected to announce all the new positions for what they call their "Development Group Officials", who have been working their way up the football pyramid.

But this will be seen as a big boost for under-represented groups in officiating English professional football.

Allison was previously in the PGMOL "National Group" but now has been promoted to Select Group 2.

Howson has moved into the very top level of match officials - and will be an assistant referee in Select Group 1 which works primarily in the Premier League.