BBC Sport has profiled referee Darren England's return to high-profile appointments, including his first Champions League VAR role on Tuesday in Galatasaray's game against Stuttgart. The profile revisits the Luis Diaz VAR error and its aftermath.
The low point after the Diaz incident
Three years earlier, while acting as the video assistant referee in a game between Tottenham and Liverpool, Darren England said "check complete" after Luis Diaz scored for Liverpool and the goal remained disallowed. England told BBC Sport: "That was a low point. The lowest point, of course."
BBC Sport said it would be almost three months after the Diaz mistake before England refereed a top-flight game again, and that he did not return to full rotation until February. BBC Sport also said it was six-and-a-half months before England was the video official in the Premier League again.
Recovery and support
England said: "Once I realised I'd made the error, it's a really difficult place to try to forget that and move on." He added: "I did a lot of work with a sports psychologist." He also said: "The support, not just from Pro Ref but more importantly family and friends, was really crucial."
England said: "That was difficult because it affected my family as well. We had people outside my girls' school, journalists and things like that." He added: "That then affects you not as a referee, but as a human being."
Major appointments in 2026
BBC Sport said England is 40 years old and is considered one of the most-trusted referees in the Premier League, both on the field and as a VAR. Throughout 2026, England has regularly been given some of English football's biggest matches, including Manchester City's 1-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Speaking about the FA Cup final at Wembley, England said: "That was a huge high for me, the pinnacle as a referee." BBC Sport said England was the VAR for a decision in May in which West Ham had a stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal disallowed on review. Six days later, England took charge of the FA Cup final.
European promotion and praise
On Tuesday, England was promoted to a VAR in the Champions League for the first time, as Galatasaray take on Stuttgart. BBC Sport said Uefa had given England 10 Conference League appointments and six in the Europa League as a VAR before elevating him to the Champions League.
BBC Sport also said England had recently taken charge of his 100th top-flight game. BBC Sport said Hugh Dallas, the Professional Referee Group director, said England had "become a role model" at a referees' training camp at Loughborough University.
