Three years ago, Darren England made a critical error as VAR during a Tottenham vs Liverpool match, wrongly disallowing Luis Diaz's goal. The incident halted his career and brought intense media scrutiny to him and his family. Today, the 40-year-old is one of the Premier League's most trusted referees and has been promoted to VAR in the Champions League.
England describes refereeing as a "rollercoaster of emotions," with the Diaz incident being his lowest point and the FA Cup final his pinnacle. He emphasizes that referees are deeply affected by mistakes, rejecting the myth that they "don't care about football." The VAR hub, he explains, is a high-pressure, sanitised environment causing mental fatigue. Despite the past, England has shown resilience and is now a role model for officials navigating the complexities of modern football.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing