Darren England: Rising from Controversy to Champions League Glory
When it comes to the rollercoaster of a referee's life, few know it better than Darren England.
Just three years ago, a mishap during a Tottenham vs. Liverpool match nearly derailed his career. Luis Diaz scored what should have been a goal, but in a moment of misjudgment, England ruled it offside despite clear VAR evidence to the contrary. The fallout was immense, thrusting not just him but his family into the media spotlight.
"Refereeing is about low points and high points," England reflected in an interview with BBC Sport. "That was definitely a low point—my lowest point, in fact."
Fast forward to today, and the 40-year-old has bounced back spectacularly. He’s now one of the most respected referees in the Premier League, officiating major matches like Manchester City's FA Cup final win over Chelsea.
"That was a huge high for me, the pinnacle as a referee," he said, looking back at his recent successes.
In an exciting turn of events, England has now been appointed as a VAR for the Champions League, marking a significant milestone in his career. He’ll oversee the upcoming clash between Galatasaray and Stuttgart.
Darren's journey to the Premier League began as an assistant referee, and he steadily climbed the ranks, even returning from the National League to take charge of top-flight matches. The game has changed dramatically since he swapped his flag for a whistle over a decade ago.
Referees these days are equipped like never before, with England humorously noting they’re now “dressed like RoboCop” due to all the gear they carry. The introduction of VAR has transformed decision-making, but England insists it hasn’t altered his approach to officiating.
"If I play on a penalty decision, it's because I don’t think it’s a penalty, not because I’m waiting for VAR," he asserted. He values the opportunity to review decisions post-match, emphasizing that no referee wants to leave a game with regrets.
England is quick to debunk the myth that referees are indifferent when they make mistakes. "It couldn’t be further from the truth. If I make a big decision that impacts the game, it can ruin my weekend—and sometimes longer."
He knows this all too well, especially after the Diaz incident. The VAR audio revealed that he and his assistant immediately recognized their mistake, but they still had a game to finish.
"Once I realized I’d made the error, it was tough to push it aside and focus on the rest of the match," he admitted. It required immense resilience and experience to navigate through that challenging period.
The VAR hub is a pressure cooker environment, devoid of the usual crowd energy. "You hear some crowd noise, but it’s just that—a noise. After a hectic match, you can leave the hub feeling mentally drained," he explained.
The aftermath of the missed call thrust Darren and his family into a media frenzy. Their lives were dissected, with photographers camping outside his children’s school and personal details being exposed.
"It was really tough to handle. The Premier League is like a goldfish bowl, and when mistakes happen, you’re in the public eye. It impacts not just your career but your family too," he shared.
Following the Diaz error, England was sidelined from Premier League matches for nearly three months, slowly working his way back. It was a longer journey back to VAR duties, taking six and a half months before he was back in the video room.
He credits the support from his family, friends, and even a sports psychologist for helping him regain his footing. "It’s crucial to keep perspective. We’re not saving lives here, but we do recognize the importance of our role," he said.
His hard work has certainly paid off, as he recently was the VAR for a contentious call that disallowed a last-minute equalizer for West Ham against Arsenal—a decision that was labeled as the 'biggest VAR call ever.'
"I absolutely understood the magnitude of that decision," England remarked, demonstrating just how far he has come since that fateful day with Luis Diaz.
