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All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for vote

24 May 2024 , 09:27
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The future of VAR is in question after 30 errors due to the system over the recent season (Image: (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images))
The future of VAR is in question after 30 errors due to the system over the recent season (Image: (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images))

VAR has proven to be a hot talking point in the Premier League ever since its introduction.

But it could now be scrapped, with the 20 top-flight sides building up to vote on its future at a meeting on 6 June. Rules state that any rule changes need a two-thirds majority, meaning 14 out of the 20 teams need to vote in favour of scrapping VAR for it to happen.

Wolves have already confirmed they will voting to scrap the system, having been left increasingly frustrated at decisions over the season just gone. Along with Wolves; Brighton, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were the teams worst affected by VAR decisions.

It is unknown how that trio will vote, but data from the Independent Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI) has now revealed the full list of 30 VAR errors made this season. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at each one. If an incident isn't listed, the panel said it was correct or not a clear and obvious error.

1. August 14: Manchester United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

On the very first matchday of the season, VAR was in the headlines for the wrong reasons. In the sixth minute of injury time, United keeper Andre Onana came charging out of his goal to claim a cross but missed the ball and jumped straight into Wolves star Sasa Kalajdzic.

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Onana caught Kalajdzic in the face with his arm, with the Red Devils leading 1-0. Referee Simon Hooper ignored claims for a penalty, though VAR Michael Salisbury did check for a spot kick, confirming Hooper's call.

That was categorised as a wrong decision by the KMI, while the direct manager of Premier League referees Jon Moss visited the Wolves dressing room and admitted there had been a mistake as soon as the final whistle was blown.

2. August 19: Liverpool 3-1 AFC Bournemouth

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteAlexis Mac Allister was wrongly sent off for this tackle (Twitter/@SkySportsPL)

Five days later, Alexis Mac Allister was wrongly sent off in a win over Bournemouth. Mac Allister went in for a 50-50 with Ryan Christie and caught the Bournemouth star on the leg, though there was little force in the tackle.

But referee Thomas Bramall opted to send him off. There was surprise when VAR Paul Tierney did not even ask Bramall to review the decision on the pitchside monitor. Liverpool later had the red card rescinded on appeal.

3. September 2: Manchester City 5-1 Fulham

Fulham were left furious that Nathan Ake's goal in first-half injury time was allowed to stand. Manuel Akanji appeared to be in Fulham keeper Bernd Leno's line of sight, preventing him from saving Ake's shot.

Referee Michael Oliver and VAR Tony Harrington disagreed though and allowed the goal to stand. The Cottagers would ultimately fall to a heavy defeat, with boss Marco Silva left furious and even City striker Erling Haaland admitted the wrong decision had been made.

"It was offside," admitted Haaland in an interview with beIN SPORTS after full-time. "I feel bad for them - I would be fuming after this as well. It must be a horrible feeling."

4. September 16: Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteA penalty won by Ollie Watkins against Crystal Palace should not have stood (Getty Images)

Villa were awarded an injury-time penalty with the score level at 1-1 when Ollie Watkins was brought down by Chris Richards. Referee Darren England reviewed the decision at the pitchside monitor, with the VAR having given a recommendation to overturn it.

He spent five minutes looking at the monitor before rejecting the VAR's advice and confirming the penalty decision. Douglas Luiz converted to put Villa ahead, with Palace first-team coach Paddy McCarthy left fuming.

He said: “If it takes five minutes to make a decision that tells you everything you need to know. People in the studio have asked him to go and have a look. Whatever he has seen on the monitor has not changed his mind.”

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5. September 18: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burnley

Burnley looked to have secured their first win of the season when Lyle Foster scored with 14 minutes remaining against Forest. But the VAR wrongly disallowed it due to a handball from Sander Berge in the build-up, with Clarets boss Vincent Kompany blasting the decision.

"I have to get used to it," said Kompany. "In the Championship if it's in, it's in. I have a decent business and coaching brain, but when it comes to laws and legality I switch off. It is not something I want to discuss too much, I cannot change it now."

6/7. September 30: Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

There were two wrong decisions in this game, with both coming against Brighton. First, Ollie Watkins' strike to put Villa two goals ahead was allowed to stand despite Nicolo Zaniolo standing in front of the keeper.

The VAR ruled that Zaniolo had not affected Luke Steele, a decision the KMI ruled as incorrect. The second wrong decision came when Watkins' second goal stood despite Douglas Luiz fouling Solly March in the build-up.

8. September 30: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteLuis Diaz's goal against Spurs was disallowed incorrectly

Arguably the most infamous VAR error of the season came back in September. With the score goalless, Luis Diaz burst through to put Liverpool ahead, though the assistant referee raised his flag.

A communication error between referee Simon Hooper and VAR Darren England saw the offside wrongly confirmed. Spurs scored just a few minutes later, with the PGMOL admitting a significant error had been made.

A statement read: "PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool. PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error and will immediately be contacting Liverpool at the conclusion of the fixture to acknowledge the error."

9. October 1: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brentford

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteMatt Turner should have conceded a penalty for this challenge on Yoane Wissa (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

With the score goalless, Forest keeper Matt Turner let the ball roll across him, allowing Yoane Wissa to nip in ahead of him. Turner then kicked Wissa in the back of the leg. VAR checked the incident but decided it was not a penalty, much to Brentford's amazement.

Bees boss Thomas Frank: "It's a clear penalty. I think, unfortunately, that's a mistake from VAR. Unfortunately our players are too honest. Maybe we need to be a little bit more wise than that. But I won't say that to my players, I like honest players."

10. October 27: Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham

A stoppage-time consolation goal from Jordan Ayew was allowed to stand when it should have been ruled out for handball. Ayew brought the ball down and volleyed in late on in his side's defeat to Spurs.

But replays showed the winger had handballed it, with the ball clipping his arm before he shot. VAR checked the goal, but wrongly allowed it to stand.

11. October 28: Wolves 2-2 Newcastle United

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteWolves boss Gary O'Neil has hit out at VAR several times (Getty Images)

Wolves were leading when Newcastle were given a penalty following Hwang Hee-chan's challenge on Fabian Schär. But replays showed Schar had kicked the turf and was already on his way down before any contact. PGMOL chief Howard Webb admitted an error had been made.

He said: "We feel this reaches the threshold for it being a clear and obvious error, even though there is contact. We are asking the VARs going forward with our instruction to have a look at it.

"See where the considerations sit and if they don't like the decision on the field, ask the referee what they saw. And if it is significantly different to what is being shown on the video then recommend a review so the referee can come to the screen and look at it again for himself, the starting point where the VAR thinks there has been a clear error."

12. October 29: Brighton 1-1 Fulham

A rainy game was dominated post-match by a potential red card that should have been shown to João Palhinha. The Fulham star appeared to elbow Pascal Groß, but VAR Michael Salisbury confirmed the decision to not even award a foul.

But former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given believed that was the wrong move. He told Match of the Day: “I think he’s very lucky. It could be a red card. He has definitely left a bit on him. He clearly lifts his arm in his face and I think he’s extremely lucky.”

13/14. November 4: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteKai Havertz should have been sent off for this dangerous tackle (Sky Sports)

This game was dominated by a controversial goal for Newcastle. But that was not one of the decisions ruled to be wrong, with the Key Match Incidents panel instead focusing in on two red cards that were missed.

First, Kai Havertz was lucky to stay on the pitch when he went flying in on Sean Longstaff. The Arsenal player's tackle was off the ground, with his studs going into Longstaff's shin, sparking a brawl.

Havertz was allowed to remain on the pitch though, despite a VAR check. Bruno Guimaraes was also lucky to stay on when he launched an elbow at Jorginho in the second-half.

15. November 4: Sheffield United 2-1 Wolves

Sheffield United were awarded a penalty in the 97th minute for foul by Fabio Silva on George Baldock. There was a lengthy VAR review, with replays showing the penalty should not be given.

VAR did not come to the same conclusion though, allowing Ollie Norwood to smash home a winner, much to Wolves boss Gary O'Neil's fury. He said: “It’s not a penalty. I spoke to the referee, and I told him why it wasn’t a penalty.

"He says there’s contact – Fabio’s shinpad probably grazes Baldock’s calf. I’ve watched it loads of times and there’s minimal contact and if we’re giving fouls for that, there would have been a million fouls in that football match."

16. December 9: Sheffield United 1-0 Brentford

Brentford's Frank Onyeka was lucky to stay on the pitch in the first-half. Onyeka should have been sent off for a tackle on Vinicius Souza. The refereeing team wrongly allowed him to remain on the pitch though.

17. December 10: Luton Town 1-2 Man City

Luton star Jacob Brown avoided a red card for a tackle on Phil Foden late in the second half. Brown should have been sent for an early bath, with the KMI panel ruling this as one of VAR's wrong decisions.

18. December 23: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteMartin Odegaard should have conceded a penalty for this handball

Liverpool demanded a penalty when Martin Odegaard appeared to push the ball with his hand in the box. Referee Chris Kavanagh insisted he had slipped, with VAR confirming his decision. Webb later admitted that was the wrong call.

"The game expects a penalty in this situation. I would agree. The referee on the field recognised that Odegaard had slipped and saw his arm go towards the ground. This is not just Odegaard accidentally falling on to the ball," he said.

"He does slip, his arm does go out, but he actually pulls his arm back in towards his body, which is when the ball makes contact with the arm. Whether it's instinctive or deliberate, he gets a huge advantage by bringing the arm back towards the ball. All the feedback we got afterwards was very clear. This is one that didn't reach the right outcome on that basis."

19. December 26: Burnley 0-2 Liverpool

Darwin Nunez was penalised for a foul on Burnley's Charlie Taylor before a Cody Gakpo goal with the score at 0-0. The VAR should have intervened to allow the goal to stand but did not.

20/21. February 10: Luton 1-3 Sheffield United

Two penalties were wrongly awarded to Sheffield United, which condemned Luton to defeat. Both were for handballs from Reece Burke and Vinicius Souza, with the two decisions blasted by Shay Given.

He said: "Both penalties for me are a bit farcical if I’m honest. You look at the referee, he’s in a good position to see it. I think it’s someone in the VAR getting a bit busy upstairs or getting a bit bored. For me, neither are a penalty."

22. February 10: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Newcastle

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteNuno Espirito Santo has been left furious with VAR at several points this season (Getty Images)

With the score level at 2-2, Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka dived and collided with Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi in the box. The VAR reviewed the incident but decided no clear and obvious error had been made by referee Anthony Taylor.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo fumed: "I saw it over and over again, for me it is a clear penalty. I think Anthony Taylor maybe doesn't have a clear view of the incident because it is from behind but when you have the chance for VAR to check it, I think it is so obvious, that is why I don't understand the decision."

23. February 17: Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham United

With Forest leading 1-0, they should have been awarded a penalty when Maxwel Cornet fouled Neco Williams. Their calls for a penalty were waved away though and the VAR did not overturn the on-pitch decision.

24. March 10: Brighton 1-0 Nottingham Forest

With 23 minutes remaining Brighton star Jakub Moder dived in on Neco Williams with a studs-up challenge. The VAR reviewed the incident, but did not direct referee Michael Salisbury to upgrade Moder's yellow card. Nuno was again furious.

He said: "Someone tell me it is not a red card, am I saying something really stupid? VAR stops the game, it is a clear red card," added Nuno. "It is week after week - that is enough. I am just asking in a very honest way, tell me why. Why always us?"

25. March 30: Chelsea 2-2 Burnley

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteDarren England's performance in Chelsea's draw with Burnley was blasted (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

The refereeing team endured a dreadful day as Chelsea were awarded a penalty that should not have stood. The yellow card Lorenz Assignon picked up then led to his sending off later on. Referee Darren England's performance was blasted by former top official Dermot Gallagher, with VAR having wrongly confirmed the awarding of the penalty.

Gallagher said: “I talk about referees and how tough it is but I don't know what's made him think that's a penalty. It's not a penalty, 100 per cent. He then gives him a yellow card – I'm not sure what that's for.

It can't be for denying a goalscoring opportunity because Mudryk is not in possession of the ball. You give a penalty, that is wrong. A yellow card, that's wrong, which becomes a red card, so the player is sent off and he's going to serve a one-match ban because there's no appeal."

26. April 6: Everton 1-0 Burnley

A red card shown to Dara O'Shea for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity on a tackle on Dwight McNeil should have been reduced to a yellow. Michael Oliver was not directed to overturn his decision by the VAR, to Clarets boss Vincent Kompany's frustration.

He said: “The letter of the law says he should have been denying a goalscoring opportunity to be sent off. I’ll let you guys make your own judgement on that. There was a lot of force on that ball so it was a pretty comfortable pick up for the goalkeeper."

27. April 7: Sheffield United 2-2 Chelsea

Jack Robinson was lucky to stay on the pitch when he launched into Cole Palmer, catching the Chelsea star high on the leg. Replays showed he should have been sent off, but the VAR stayed quiet, with Gallagher insisting it was the wrong call.

He said: “Not a nice tackle. I think he must be very, very high on the yellow card threshold. The referee thinks he’s low but his other foot isn’t. Cole Palmer gets up and smiles – it defuses it a lot. He’s done him a big favour.”

28. April 21: Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest

All 30 Premier League VAR errors revisisted as clubs prepare for voteThis incident between Ashley Young and Callum Hudson-Odoi should have led to a penalty (Dave Howarth - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Forest were left furious over three penalty incidents, though the KMI panel ruled only one should have awarded. That was when Ashley Young brought down Callum Hudson-Odoi. VAR checked and cleared all three incidents, with Forest releasing an explosive statement in response.

They said: "Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept. We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn't change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options."

29. May 11: Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford

Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke had a goal disallowed on VAR review for a handball in the buildup by Antoine Semenyo. The KMI panel ruled it should have stood, with Cherries boss Andoni Iraola left furious with referee Matt Donohue.

He said: “I think the game was very affected by the refereeing decisions and it is not the first time we can complain in the last few games. We have been very affected by refereeing decisions.

“We have not had any explanation for the goal being disallowed but, according to the rules, he is not the one scoring the goal. The handball came from a rebound, it was not on purpose."

30. May 15: Brighton 1-2 Chelsea

Brighton should have been awarded a penalty a minute into the second half for Malo Gusto's challenge on Simon Adingra. Neither the referee or VAR made the correct call though and the protests were waved away.

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