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#Post#: 100733--------------------------------------------------
Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: UmpireIan49
Date: January 25, 2026, 5:54 pm
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I’ve just realised something, the three incidents regarding
handball over the last two weeks have all involved Darren
England, either as VAR or on field referee.
First of all, the handball incident at Nottingham Forest where
in my opinion, there was a clear handling offence in the penalty
area but no OFR recommended for Michael Oliver to look at.
Then the incident with Farai Hallam yesterday at Manchester
City. A recommendation from England that Hallam look at a
potential penalty which was correctly called by the on field
referee. After looking, Farai Hallam showed resilience to stick
with his decision of no penalty. England’s initial
recommendation difficult to fathom.
And then onto today’s game at Crystal Palace where the incident
has been discussed elsewhere. Poor decision by VAR Matt Donohue
in the first place to recommend a review and an even more
incomprehensible explanation by Darren England which frankly was
wrong.
Concerning? I would say so for a top flight official. Clear
reviews not called for and the other two which should have seen
no further consideration, saw some further consideration.
Inconsistent and for the fans and neutral observers like myself,
completely bewildering.
Not using this as a stick to beat Darren England with, but
highlighting the wrong interpretations of the current handball
law is necessary here as I think a further look at standards are
needed.
What I will say is that Farai Hallam, Paul Tierney and Craig
Pawson didn’t disappear down the proverbial rabbit hole and got
the interpretations correct, and well done to them. As for
Darren England, I would be more than a little concerned.
#Post#: 100734--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: ocj1998
Date: January 25, 2026, 6:16 pm
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What makes you say the Crystal Palace intervention was
incorrect?
#Post#: 100735--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: ARF
Date: January 25, 2026, 6:25 pm
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--- Quote from: ocj1998 link ---
>
> What makes you say the Crystal Palace intervention was
incorrect?
>
--- End Quote ---
The Laws of the Game.
#Post#: 100736--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: UmpireIan49
Date: January 25, 2026, 6:29 pm
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The intervention at Crystal Palace was incorrect as first of
all, the handball in the penalty area was not deliberate so a
penalty shouldn’t have been awarded.
Once the penalty was awarded, England said “The handball was
accidental so it’s a penalty and a yellow card”. Bizarre to say
the least considering other correct handball interpretations
this weekend by on field refs and VAR alike.
It was a deep hole dug by VAR Matt Donohue and Darren England
fell into it I’m afraid. Poor decision in the first place and a
poor explanation which lacked any sense at all.
#Post#: 100737--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: ocj1998
Date: January 25, 2026, 6:44 pm
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I must've imagined the law where even if accidental, you can't
prevent the ball going in the net with an arm. I hadn't seen the
incident earlier when a friend explained it and I immediately
said penalty & caution.
As you've both said, there seems to be nothing of the sort
stated in law 12 having re-read just now, so maybe I have made
that up (?). Will be interesting what the clarification on it
is.
Handball law is a mess as it is without any more confusion, but
if you can't score a goal with an accidental handball, I'm not
sure why you should be able to prevent one either.
#Post#: 100738--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: ocj1998
Date: January 25, 2026, 6:46 pm
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Agree that he put Farai into a difficult position yesterday, I
do wonder whether he'd had words on the one you refer to the
week before, which could have led to the decision to intervene
on that one.
#Post#: 100739--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: TC021002
Date: January 25, 2026, 9:50 pm
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England also stuck with his on-field decision of no handball
(like Hallam) in a game last season. Fulham v Everton I believe
#Post#: 100749--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: Claretman
Date: January 26, 2026, 4:00 am
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On sky sports ref watch Mr gallagher says the handball law
changed.
Quote:
DERMOT SAYS: "The law was changed in August 2024. It was felt
that if a player stops the ball accidentally with his hand from
going in the goal, it isn't about handball, it's about stoping a
goal. That's the difference, it's a dfferent part of the law.
"When you look at this incident from behind the goal, it is
quite clear it is going in the goal. There is no doubt
whatsoever it's going to be a goal. The goalkeeper is out."
Unquote:
#Post#: 100753--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: ARF
Date: January 26, 2026, 5:06 am
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--- Quote from: Claretman link ---
>
> On sky sports ref watch Mr gallagher says the handball law
changed.
>
> Quote:
>
> DERMOT SAYS: "The law was changed in August 2024. It was felt
that if a player stops the ball accidentally with his hand from
going in the goal, it isn't about handball, it's about stoping a
goal. That's the difference, it's a dfferent part of the law.
> "When you look at this incident from behind the goal, it is
quite clear it is going in the goal. There is no doubt
whatsoever it's going to be a goal. The goalkeeper is out."
>
> Unquote:
>
--- End Quote ---
I know I'm repeating myself a little from the other thread, but
it's very frustrating that an ex-top flight referee who is now
paid to explain things from a refereeing point of view to
viewers who don't know the Laws, can invent/misunderstand parts
of the LotG so badly here. And that goes double for the active
SG1 match officials on the field and in the VAR booth yesterday.
#Post#: 100758--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England and handball interpretations….
DIR By: ShoeRef
Date: January 26, 2026, 6:35 am
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In contrast to the opening post (and having not seen the Chelsea
one from yesterday)... I actually agree with England's stance on
the other 2.
I don't think the Forest one was an obvious error and I do
(albeit in a minority) think that the Wolves one was, when you
see the angle from behind the player and the way his arms come
up.
Kudos to Farai for having the balls to stick with his original
decision on debut, but I do think it was an error to do so.
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