Referee Darren England returns to top matches after VAR error

Darren England, a Premier League referee, experienced a career setback three years ago due to a VAR error in a match between Tottenham and Liverpool, according to BBC Sport and Yahoo Sports.

During that game, Luis Diaz scored for Liverpool, but England mistakenly flagged the goal offside despite VAR images showing Diaz was onside. England prematurely ended the VAR review, resulting in the goal being disallowed.

This error brought intense media scrutiny not only on England but also on his family, causing a pause in his refereeing career.

Since then, England has rebuilt his reputation and is now regarded as one of the most trusted referees in the Premier League, trusted both on the field and as a VAR official.

In 2026, England officiated high-profile matches including the FA Cup final where Manchester City defeated Chelsea 1-0, and he was promoted to serve as a VAR official in the Champions League for the first time during a game between Galatasaray and Stuttgart.

England reflected on the evolution of refereeing over the past 11 years, noting the increased use of technology and equipment, including communication devices and VAR, which was newly introduced when he refereed a Premier League match in January 2020.