Irish League referee Kennedy passes away aged 33

Irish Premiership referee Keith Kennedy has passed distant astatine nan property of 33.

Kennedy began refereeing successful 2007 and officiated his first Irish League lucifer astatine nan property of 21.

He took complaint of nan 2017 Irish Cup last betwixt Linfield and Coleraine and was a Fifa-qualified charismatic for a number of years.

Kennedy officiated nan world friends betwixt nan Republic of Ireland and Qatar astatine nan Aviva Stadium successful November 2021 and had taken complaint of galore underage world matches.

His past lucifer was Coleraine's 4-2 Irish Premiership triumph complete Ballymena United connected 16 August.

"The NI Football League are profoundly saddened to study of nan abrupt passing of referee Keith Kennedy," publication a connection from nan organisation connected Wednesday evening.

"A hugely knowledgeable and respected lucifer charismatic successful nan convention since 2007, Keith roseate to nan apical of nan crippled arsenic a Fifa Referee, and besides officiated galore of nan Irish League’s biggest matches and cup finals."

NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor paid tribute to Kennedy.

"The news of Keith’s passing has shocked nan convention family today,” he said.

“Keith was not only a referee, but a friend to galore wrong our clubs, he was 1 of nan bully guys. He was ever approachable and nan first to make nan telephone and clasp his hands up if he sewage thing wrong.

“He was a character, a consecutive talker and an individual pinch precocious morals, who lived his values and convictions, perchance often to his ain detriment wrong nan game.

“To his beloved family, refereeing colleagues and friends wrong football, we connection our deepest condolences and our prayers astatine this very difficult time.”

As a people of respect, location will beryllium a minutes’ soundlessness held astatine each NIFL matches this play successful representation of Keith.