Darren England: Referee who bounced back from Diaz error
How Premier League referee Darren England recovered from a major VAR error involving Luis Diaz to officiate the FA Cup final and Champions League.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Darren England made a major VAR error during a Tottenham vs Liverpool match three years ago.
- He and his family faced intense media scrutiny outside his children's school and home.
- Now 40, he has rebuilt his career, refereeing the 2026 FA Cup final.
- He has been promoted to act as a VAR in the Champions League match between Galatasaray and Stuttgart.
Navigating the highs and lows of professional football officiating is no easy task, and few understand this better than 40-year-old official Darren England. Three years ago, while acting as a video assistant referee during a fixture between Tottenham and Liverpool, his career hit a major roadblock following a critical oversight in the VAR room.
Luis Diaz scored for Liverpool, but the goal was incorrectly flagged as offside. Despite video evidence clearly showing Diaz was onside, England suffered a lapse of concentration, told the referee "check complete," and allowed the disallowed goal to stand, sparking widespread controversy across English football.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The fallout thrust England and his family into an intense media spotlight. "That was a low point. The lowest point, of course," England recalled, detailing how photographers staked out his children's school and personal family photographs were pulled from social media accounts, impacting him not just professionally but as a human being.
Darren England's journey highlights the crushing psychological weight modern video assistant referees carry. While technology is designed to assist on-field decisions, split-second communication lapses under immense pressure can lead to career-threatening scrutiny. The story illustrates that rehabilitation for officials requires robust mental resilience and structured support systems, extending far beyond technical training on the pitch.
Following the mistake, England was immediately removed from top-flight selections. It took nearly three months before he returned to referee a Premier League game and six and a half months before he worked in the VAR room again, eased back in by the Football Association alongside Michael Oliver. His rehabilitation culminated in high-profile assignments, including overseeing the FA Cup final where Manchester City defeated Chelsea 1-0, and his recent appointment as a VAR for the Champions League match between Galatasaray and Stuttgart.
Despite referees now carrying extensive communication gear and facing relentless questions from fans and parents alike, England chooses to avoid social media entirely to maintain his focus. His ability to overcome adversity earned him recognition from Professional Referee Group director Hugh Dallas at a training camp at Loughborough University, where he was highlighted as a true role model for his peers.
Source: BBC Sport
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment