Yahoo Sport 
Referees' chief Mike Riley opens up on Keith Kennedy death and planned tribute
Irish FA Head of Refereeing Mike Riley admits learning of Keith Kennedy's death was "devastating". The popular Lisburn official died suddenly back in September at the age of 33.
Kennedy had been a referee since since 2007 and had officiated in the Northern Ireland Football League for more than a decade. Among the high-profile games he refereed was the Irish Cup Final in 2017.
Riley - who was appointed the IFA's referee's chief last year - says Kennedy's death was a huge blow to the Northern Ireland football family.
READ NEXT: Watch: Rory McIlroy labelled 'clearly lucky' after incredible duff shot
READ NEXT: Tiernan Lynch offers honest assessment as Larne are down but not out
“In short, it is tragic, I only knew Keith for 16 or 17 months and I can remember Andrew (Davey) calling me to tell me the news. It was devastating, I was walking around an airport not knowing what I was doing for an hour," Riley said.
“If it affects me like that, just imagine how much it affects his friends and close colleagues."
Riley praised the Irish League refereeing family for rallying together in the aftermath of Kennedy's passing.
He also said a number of tributes were being planned for later in the year in memory of their former esteemed colleague.
He added: “Out of a really sad and tragic situation it was good to see the refereeing family come together to look after each other and I saw some wonderful things that took place.
READ MORE: Keith Kennedy remembered as fellow referees pay heartfelt tribute
“We have a few things planned later this year as tributes to Keith. To bring it back to the recruitment side, if people are looking at refereeing as a lonely life, that perception from the outside is not right because once you are part of it, you know it is a really close community.”
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
