Referee at centre of VAR storm to take charge of Middlesbrough v Sunderland

Who will be the referee for Middlesbrough v Sunderland? It's someone who has certainly made himself known this season...

Michael Graham | Feb 3, 2024

Referee at centre of VAR storm to take charge of Middlesbrough v Sunderland /

The last time Sunderland played Middlesbrough the referee made all the headlines, and not in a good way if you are of a Black Cats persuasion.

Premier League official Jarred Gillett was the man in charge, and he decided to send off Dan Neil for some bad language just before the break.

The Premier League will again loan a referee to the Championship for the reverse fixture. Thankfully, though, it’s not Gillett.

January signing to make debut: Sunderland predicted line-up v Middlesbrough

Who is the referee for Middlesbrough vs Sunderland?

Darren England is the referee for the clash at the Riverside between Middlesbrough and Sunderland, and he is not a name that Sunderland have come across for a while now.

By contrast, England has refereed Middlesbrough (and Brentford) more than any other club in his career.

If that name sounds familiar to you, it is because England was at the centre of a VAR storm earlier this year when he wrongly ruled out a goal for Luis Diaz when Liverpool played Tottenham.

All hell broke loose and Jurgen Klopp demanded the game be replayed. That Darren England.

This will be his ninth Championship match of the season with him also taking charge of six Premier League fixtures.

He will be assisted by Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh, with Leigh Doughty taking Fourth Official duties.

Darren England stats (23/24 season)

Championship Games: 9
Yellow Cards: 54
Red Cards: 2
Penalties awarded: 5

Darren England record in Sunderland matches

Matches: 7
Sunderland wins: 3
Draws: 2
Sunderland defeats: 2
Sunderland players sent off: 0
Penalties awarded: 1

Notable Darren England Sunderland Games

As Darren England was working his way up the football pyramid, Sunderland were making their way down it.

Therefore, there haven’t been a huge number of encounters between the two over the years on one especially recently.

There have been a few notable games among them, though.

Burnley 1-3 Sunderland (EFL Cup, 28 August 2019)

The most recent Sunderland match that Darren England refereed was when Jack Ross’ team beat Premier League opposition.

Sunderland recovered from an early Jay Rodriguez goal to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Will Grigg, Tom Flanagan and George Dobson.

Of the players who were on the teamsheet that night, only Elliot Embleton, Luke O’Nien, Anthony Patterson and Jack Diamond remain.

Sunderland 1-0 Bradford (League One, 26 December 2018)

Remember when Sunderland beat the all-time third tier attendance record, as if that was a thing to be proud of, and Charlie Methven came on the pitch to announce it at half-time as if it was his accomplishment alone?

Well Darren England was the referee for that one.

Sunderland won the game 1-0 thanks to an Aiden McGeady goal, although had goal line technology been used they wouldn’t have.

Brentford 3-3 Sunderland (Championship, 21 October 2017)

A Brentford team very much on the up faced a Sunderland one in freefall in 2017, and England was in charge of it.

The Bees boasted Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay in their line-up nut they needed a lat goal to deny Sunderland a win.

Lewis Grabban scored two for Sunderland, who also benefited from a Daniel Bentley own-goal.