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#Post#: 106064--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: TA_Ref
Date: May 16, 2026, 1:38 pm
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--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
I understand people may disagree with me but I don’t think it
was necessarily wrong to question his appointment to the final.
I don’t think he’s been a standout performer (in an overly
positive manner) this season and I, for one, am never overly
convinced when I watch him.
But, as everyone did when we questioned the appointment, we all
wished him a good game. And today he delivered an excellent
performance which was controversy free. I’m happy he proved the
doubters wrong, which includes myself. Whatever the merit of his
appointment, he delivered a calm and composed performance and
got pretty much most things spot on.
#Post#: 106067--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: May 16, 2026, 1:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
The whole purpose of this site is to discuss appointments and
performances. Don’t really understand this comment
#Post#: 106072--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: El Referee
Date: May 16, 2026, 2:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
Darren England had a very good day, no doubt. However, I don’t
think there are any issues at all to query his appointment. If
you look at it in the grand scheme of things, DE hasn’t had a
particularly great season. And in my opinion is one of the
weaker in the group.
There were far more deserving candidates, based on this seasons
form.
#Post#: 106075--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: aaa
Date: May 16, 2026, 3:44 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
I have no opinion on the appointment whatsoever, but many
dedicated Contributors on here have watched hundredths of
matches to form their opinion about the appointment. However,
overwhelming numbers also wished him luck today.
Please let us separate opinion of the appointment away from the
fantastic performance today.
#Post#: 106080--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: Arbitre anglais
Date: May 16, 2026, 6:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
Two things can be right at the same time. Wouldn’t have been my
first choice based on performance and other options, yet he had
a very good gane and will be pleased with how it went for him
and his team.
#Post#: 106083--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: Charlieboy
Date: May 17, 2026, 3:01 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
All opinions are welcome on this forum unless they question
integrity or become personal. A lot of people who questioned the
appointment have also praised his performance, that does not
mean the opinion that there were more deserving officials are
wrong , I thought others were definitely more deserving, I also
thought DE was brilliant today , both opinions do fit together.
#Post#: 106084--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: May 17, 2026, 5:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The FA Cup Final is usually the showpiece for many referees'
careers. They are keen to do very well on such a big stage. I
thought Darren England did very well indeed and delivered the
game safely and securely. He will be pleased, the FA will be
pleased. Apparently Chelsea weren't pleased with some of his
decisions but I think they came in the category called the rub
of the green.
Personally I tend to agree with Martin Samuels in the Times who
a few weeks ago referred to Darren England as not one of the
strongest in the SG1 cohort and therefore I didn't believe his
performances had particularly deserved this appointment.
However, he got it and we all wished him the best and it seems
our wishes were granted.
#Post#: 106152--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: rustyref
Date: May 17, 2026, 2:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TA_Ref link ---
>
> [quote author=Failed Ref link=topic=8036.msg106062#msg106062
date=1778954192]
> I cannot help but mention that Mr. England's appointment was
questioned by many here yet he appears to have had a good game.
I respect opinions but quite frankly tire of prejudgemental and
prejudiced opinion before the fact. I wish some would recognise
the error of their ways.
>
--- End Quote ---
I understand people may disagree with me but I don’t think it
was necessarily wrong to question his appointment to the final.
I don’t think he’s been a standout performer (in an overly
positive manner) this season and I, for one, am never overly
convinced when I watch him.
But, as everyone did when we questioned the appointment, we all
wished him a good game. And today he delivered an excellent
performance which was controversy free. I’m happy he proved the
doubters wrong, which includes myself. Whatever the merit of his
appointment, he delivered a calm and composed performance and
got pretty much most things spot on.
[/quote]
It is very unlikely that the FA Cup final referee will be the
outstanding performer that season due to the rule that no one
can have it more than once, the chances very much are that the
best performing officials will have already done it and
therefore be ineligible.
That's why I believe the rule needs to be changed, the clubs who
get to the final deserve the best referee available to it, not
just who's turn it is next. You could have a ridiculous
scenario where all eligible referees have had nightmare seasons
but one of them has to be appointed. All a moot point in this
case though granted as Darren England had a very good game.
#Post#: 106176--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: ShoeRef
Date: May 18, 2026, 4:06 am
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I've been the referee who is appointed to a big cup final before
my time through rules of seniority and peoples lack of
availability.
I didn't enjoy the appointment as much as I might have because I
felt like everyone would be looking at me thinking 'why has he
got it?'.
It wasn't a good feeling, and I don't think DE deserved to be
feeling the same way going in to the pinnacle of his career, so
as a refereeing community, I think we could have left the
'underserved' comments to those outside of the community. Just
my opinion though.
#Post#: 106177--------------------------------------------------
Re: Darren England - FA Cup Final
DIR By: Failed Ref
Date: May 18, 2026, 4:33 am
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And Martin Samuel's comments in the Sunday Times lack any real
insight into the game. He, like many journalists, appear to want
to stir things up. In a privileged position, he should be more
objective.
In life we appear to indulge more in adding negatives which
aren't relevant and to question DE's appointment, a FIFA
official, is wrong in this context.
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