Referee Darren England has transformed his career from a significant VAR blunder to officiating major finals, becoming a respected figure in the Premier League and beyond. Three years ago, England's role as VAR in a match between Tottenham and Liverpool was marred by an error that disallowed a Luis Diaz goal for offside, despite VAR imagery showing the player was onside. This mistake stalled England's career for months and brought intense media scrutiny on him and his family.
"Refereeing is about low points and high points," England told BBC Sport. "It's a rollercoaster of emotions. That was a low point. The lowest point, of course." The 40-year-old official is now considered one of the most trusted referees in the Premier League, both on the field and as a VAR. His recent appointments include Manchester City's FA Cup final win over Chelsea and his upcoming debut as a VAR in the Champions League for Galatasaray's match against Stuttgart.
England noted significant changes in refereeing, including the introduction of VAR. "It's certainly not changed the way I make decisions," he insisted, emphasizing that while VAR offers a chance for correction, his on-field decisions are made based on his live judgment. He rejected the notion that referees are indifferent to mistakes, stating that errors, especially impactful ones, can significantly affect their well-being.
Following the Diaz incident, England and his assistant VAR, Dan Cook, recognized their error but had to continue the match. "Once I realised I'd made the error, it's a really difficult place to try to forget that and move on," England recalled. The VAR hub is described as a high-pressure environment where mental fatigue is common due to the intense focus required without the crowd's atmosphere.
The aftermath of the mistake led to intense media attention, with photographers reportedly gathering outside his children's school and personal family photographs being published. Liverpool issued a statement at the time, saying "sporting integrity" had been "undermined." England described the period as "challenging" because the scrutiny affected him not just as a referee but as a human being.
After the Diaz error, England was removed from Premier League selection and underwent a rehabilitation process. He returned to top-flight refereeing nearly three months later and back to VAR duties six and a half months later. He received support from a sports psychologist and crucial backing from family and friends. "It's about perspective as well," England said. "There's a danger that we can think we're saving lives at times, but we also realise how important it is."
England's resurgence is evidenced by his continued appointments, including VAR for a crucial disallowed equalizer for West Ham against Arsenal and taking charge of the FA Cup final. He acknowledges the added scrutiny VAR brings, from public queries on the school run to online fan commentary, leading him to avoid social media. "But you have to manage your time accordingly, to be aware that you can never really switch off from football."
His standing among colleagues was highlighted at a referees' training camp where he was recognized by the Professional Referee Group director as having "become a role model." England, who started refereeing at 15 and previously worked in Barnsley's academy, chose a professional career in refereeing over coaching. He made it to the Premier League as an assistant before restarting as a referee in the National League to work his way back up, achieving his first Premier League fixture within four and a half years.
UEFA's recognition of his progress has seen him appointed to various European competitions, culminating in his Champions League debut. "We work extremely hard, and we continue to work extremely hard to stay at that level," England stated. He remains focused on future goals, including officiating other major finals like the Carabao Cup and the Championship play-off final, targets that once seemed distant after his most difficult career moment.