Exclusive: Ex-PGMOL boss hails Darren England for bold call in Fulham vs Everton
Keith Hackett has praised referee Darren England for his confident decision-making after rejecting VAR’s interventions in Everton’s 3-1 win over Fulham.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that it was “refreshing” to watch the referee make a smart decision, rather than simply agreeing with VAR.
Fulham took the lead in the 17th minute after a fantastic header from Raul Jimenez, and all looked to be going according to plan for the Cottagers, who are still harbouring hopes of European football.
But against his former side, Tottenham target Marco Silva was forced to watch on from the stands as his side capitulated.
Everton equalised through Vitaliy Mykolenko just before halftime, before Michael Keane and the out-of-form Beto scored a second and third in quick succession to give the Toffees a 3-1 win over Fulham in London.
However, with the game in its final minute, the Whites thought they had won a penalty thanks to Adama Traore.
Darren England sticks to his guns on Fulham penalty call
With the clock ticking over into its 97th minute, Traore broke away down the right-hand side, before attempting to deliver a cross into the Everton box.
However, an outstretched arm from Mykolenko stopped the ball from reaching its intended destination, but England chose not to award a penalty.
Likely deeming the Ukrainian’s arm in a natural position, whilst also accounting for the defender’s close proximity to the ball, it seemed the correct decision.
But VAR still intervened, recommending England go to the monitor to review the incident.
The referee chose to stick with the original on-field decision of no penalty and received praise and support from former FIFA referee Hackett for doing so.
Keith Hackett heaps praise on Darren England
Having reviewed the footage, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett told Football Insider exclusively he was very happy to see England not just blindly follow VAR’s recommendations, saying: “Well, it is refreshing to see a referee who has been asked to visit the monitor and judge a handball offence determine, in his opinion, that the defender was withdrawing his hand and arm and attempting to make his body shape smaller.
“It is a subjective decision, and it is evident that referee England was not going to take the easy route out and tread the usual path of nodding through the VAR’s call.
“Well done to England for sticking to his guns, so I am going to support him because I want to see referees go with their decision and not capitulate to VAR.“