VAR faces scrutiny after string of contentious Premier League calls
A weekend of disputed VAR interventions across the Premier League could add several errors to the Key Match Incidents Panel's record, with two penalty decisions most likely to be logged as mistakes.
The Premier League's video assistant referee system came under fresh scrutiny after a weekend in which almost every top-flight fixture produced a controversial decision. The Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, which reviews contentious calls and votes on whether they were right, had recorded just two VAR errors after eight rounds this season, compared with six at the same stage last year. That relatively clean record now faces a tougher test.
Two incidents stand out as likely errors. At Arsenal, Kai Havertz was pulled down by Nobel Mendy and referee Farai Hallam was sent to the pitchside monitor, but no penalty was given because of an offside offence. Because the foul occurred before any offside, the law indicates the penalty should have stood. At Everton, Coventry's Caleb Yirenkyi appeared to have his hair pulled by James Tarkowski without a penalty being awarded, which the panel is likely to judge incorrect.
Two further calls may be logged depending on the panel's composition. Thierno Barry's goal for Everton survived a handball check despite apparent deviation, and Leeds' Omar Bogle escaped a red card for a challenge on Mathys Tel that split opinion among former professionals. Both could produce divided votes rather than clear verdicts.
Other decisions appear more likely to be supported. Manchester United's penalty against Aston Villa was justified by clear first contact on Matheus Cunha, while the failure to disallow Patrick Dorgu's late equaliser after contact on goalkeeper Zion Suzuki fits the league's high intervention threshold. Brentford's Igor Thiago was dismissed for catching Chema Andres in the face, a call likely to be backed under the law despite doubts over intent.
Penalty appeals in Crystal Palace against Liverpool, Sunderland against Chelsea and Coventry's clip on Taiwo Awoniyi were judged unlikely to meet the threshold for VAR error, while Newcastle's disallowed goal at Fulham for a foul by Yoane Wissa on Timothy Castagne is expected to be upheld. Overall, the weekend could yield between two and four errors, which the report describes as not a good showing.
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