Darren England earns first Champions League VAR role — SkimNews
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- Darren England was promoted to serve as a Champions League VAR for the first time when Galatasaray face Stuttgart on Tuesday, following 10 Conference League and six Europa League appointments.
- Hugh Dallas presented England as a referee who had “become a role model” at a Loughborough University training camp after his 100th top-flight game, with colleagues presenting him with a plaque and medal.
- Luis Diaz had a Liverpool goal against Tottenham disallowed after England said “check complete” despite the VAR image showing the striker was onside; England was immediately removed from Premier League selection.
- Darren England returned almost three months later as a top-flight referee and six-and-a-half months later to the VAR room, receiving support from the Football Association, a sports psychologist, family and friends.
- West Ham had a stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal disallowed on England’s review in May, a decision dubbed the “biggest VAR call ever”; England says he remained calm.
- Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final with England as referee, the assignment he called “the pinnacle” of his career, six days after the West Ham-Arsenal decision.
- Darren England left his Premier League assistant role in 2015 to start again as a referee in the National League and reached his first Premier League fixture within four and a half years.
Why it matters: England’s first Champions League VAR assignment, after 10 Conference League and six Europa League appointments, gives Uefa an official described as one of the Premier League’s most trusted. His 100th top-flight game and FA Cup final show the Diaz fallout produced career advancement, not merely a return to duty.
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