- Referee Darren England made a catastrophic blunder during VAR duty last weekend
- It sparked major controversy after Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ‘It all begins’
Darren England has been the victim of spectacularly bad timing as a new book was released today featuring a Q&A with VAR at the center of the Liverpool controversy over what makes a good referee.
In the book, called The Football School Encyclopaedia, England answers a series of questions. When asked about the most difficult part of the course, he says: ‘Making sure you don’t make a mistake that affects the outcome of the match. That’s the worst for us.’
When asked how he handles the pressure, he adds: “I try to prepare for every match the same way, which is to stay calm and relaxed. During the competition I stay very focused and make every decision I have to make, one by one! I don’t worry about past decisions in the game, it’s all about the next decision.”
At the bottom of the page is an illustration of England being interviewed and on what skills are needed to be a referee, he suggests that you ‘need to be resilient as many people question your skills’ and that ‘communication is a key skill’.
The timing is tricky given how the PGMOL released the audio of his mistake in which he and his video assistant Dan Cook – in a serious lapse of concentration and communication – failed to keep Luis Diaz’s opener for Liverpool on Saturday at Tottenham. England also discusses how he enjoys life as a referee, saying: ‘I like the fact that every game is different and you work under high pressure and make decisions within seconds.’
Darren England, the video assistant referee responsible for Saturday’s controversial VAR blunder, has offered advice on what makes a good official in a new book released today
In the new book ‘The Football School Encyclopaedia’, published on Thursday morning, England offers advice in a Q&A interview (right) called: ‘Having a word with the ref’
Luiz Diaz thought he had given Liverpool the lead against Tottenham but England failed to overturn the offside decision, sparking major controversy after the Reds’ 2-1 defeat.