Referee Darren England found himself in the spotlight again at Goodison Park today, overseeing a contentious VAR decision that awarded Everton a crucial penalty against Arsenal. This latest incident has reignited debates over England’s officiating history, particularly in light of his previous involvement in a highly criticized red card decision against Wolves earlier this season.
England, who served as the VAR official when Arsenal played Wolves, was part of the team that upheld what has been described as one of the most unjust red cards in Premier League history, issued by Michael Oliver. That decision sparked widespread backlash, and today’s events have only fueled further scrutiny of his role in officiating high-profile matches.
Arsenal had taken control of the match at Goodison Park, but the game turned on a controversial moment early in the second half. Myles Lewis-Skelly was judged to have fouled Jack Harrison in the box, leading to a penalty decision that left many questioning its validity. While referee England took time to review the incident on the pitch, VAR ultimately upheld the penalty, allowing Everton to equalize through Iliman Ndiaye.
The decision has sparked outrage among Arsenal supporters, who believe Lewis-Skelly was unfairly punished. Many fans and analysts have suggested that the officiating inconsistencies across the league are damaging the integrity of the game.
With Arsenal fighting to stay in the Premier League title race, every point is crucial. However, this latest officiating controversy has once again raised questions about the standard of refereeing and the role of VAR in determining key match outcomes.
As always, opinions will be divided—but one thing is certain: Myles Lewis-Skelly didn’t deserve this.
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