adminDarren England Opens Up on “Low Point” of VAR Error in Tottenham vs Liverpool Clash
The official responsible for one of the most infamous VAR blunders in Premier League history has spoken out about the personal toll the incident took on him and his family.
Darren England was the video assistant referee at the centre of the controversy during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in 2023. The official mistakenly failed to overturn a decision to disallow a goal by Luis Diaz, despite replays clearly showing the Liverpool forward was onside.
A lapse in concentration led England to mistakenly confirm the on-field decision with the phrase “check complete,” leaving Liverpool furious and the official deeply embarrassed. England has since described the incident as the “low point” of his career.
Speaking to the BBC, the 40-year-old revealed the difficulty of having to continue working immediately after realising his mistake. The error occurred just 34 minutes into 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 said. “I can’t just physically stand up and walk out and leave it alone. A lot of resilience was needed, a lot of experience as well.”
Fallout and Family Impact
The consequences were severe. England was stood down from Premier League duty for three months, and it was six-and-a-half months before he returned to VAR duties. He admitted that the intense public scrutiny was challenging for both him and his loved ones.
“The aftermath obviously was really difficult to deal with. It was challenging because it’s the goldfish bowl of the Premier League,” he said. “But when mistakes happen, then you’re in the public eye and criticism’s inevitably going to come your way. That was difficult because it affected my family as well.”
He revealed that the pressure extended beyond the stadium, impacting his children’s daily lives.
“We had people outside my girls’ school, journalists and things like that. That then affects you not as a referee, but as a human being,” he added.
Recovery and Resilience
To his credit, England has since revived his career. He is now regarded as one of the top officials in the country, having recently taken charge of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea, and continues to operate in the Stockley Park video bunker.
England credits a sports psychologist and a strong support network for helping him navigate the crisis. He emphasised the importance of maintaining perspective during difficult times.
“The support, not just from Pro Ref (the referees’ body) but, more importantly, from family and friends, was really crucial,” he said. “It’s about perspective as well. There’s a danger that we can think we’re saving lives at times, but we also realise how important it is.”
Reflecting on his career as a whole, England remains confident in his abilities despite the high-profile error.
“I remained as focused as I could be, working hard, trusting myself, because for all that decision in the Liverpool-Tottenham game, I’ve made hundreds of other decisions that are correct.”
England is scheduled to be on VAR duty for the upcoming fixture between Fulham and Newcastle.
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