Review panel data shows VAR mistakes have risen by a third from 10 to 13 season-on-season.
18:49, 14 Jan 2026Updated 18:49, 14 Jan 2026
Match referee Robert Jones checks the VAR screen
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VAR has become the focus of much criticism by fans(Image: Getty Images)
Football's video assistant referee needs VAR - with errors up 30% in the Premier League.
Data taken from the Key Match Incidents Panel - aka KMI - shows mistakes in the first half of the season have risen by a third from 10 to 13 compared to last year's league campaign. All but two of the gaffes were missed interventions - up from seven to 11 - when VAR failed to advise the ref to change a decision.
Incorrect interventions are down from three to two. But total overturns have dropped from 57 last season to 47 this time - a fall of 17.54%, according to the figures.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 30: Joshua King of Fulham celebrates scoring his teams goal which teammate Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham which later disallowed during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge on August 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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Josh King celebrating his goal which VAR wrongly disallowed(Image: Mike Hewitt, Getty Images)
Manchester United, Brentford and Bournemouth were the biggest sufferers of mistakes with two each. Chelsea was the club which benefitted most profiting from three bungles.
The KMI Panel meets every week to dissect each big match decision from goals to penalties and offsides to red cards.
The five-strong team is made up of three ex-players or coaches plus a representative each from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials. Officials insist it is not designed to look at each incident like a fan or manager but to take into account the laws of the game and how the Premier League expects matches to be refereed.
It first looks at the decision of the on-field referees and then VAR.
One of the biggest cock-ups came in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Fulham in August. The game was goalless in the 21st minute when Josh King scored to give Fulham the lead. Referee Rob Jones initially gave the goal but it was wrongly ruled out through a VAR review for a foul in the build-up by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah. That was deemed such as a high-profile error VAR Michael Salisbury was stood down from his next appointment.
The panel said: “Muniz has possession and Chalobah tries to step in to win the ball. This contact is normal in the context of the skill Muniz was performing.”
Another key mistake was Everton missing out on a penalty in a 0-1 home defeat by Arsenal after Thierno Barry was kicked by the league leader’s defender William Saliba. With Brentford 2-1 up against Manchester United in the 71st minute Nathan Collins pulled back Bryan Mbeumo as he was about to latch on to a pass.
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Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Benjamin Sesko look dejected after the team's defeat by Brentford(Image: Getty Images)
Referee Craig Pawson gave the penalty but only cautioned Collins. VAR Andy Madley did not think Mbeumo was in control to be denied a scoring chance.
But the panel ruled Collins should have been sent off and Brentford reduced to 10 men. Bruno Fernandes' penalty was saved and Brentford went on to add a third goal.
The panel also catalogues on-field mistakes which did not reach the clear and obvious threshold for VAR to step in - which are up from 12 to 15. Despite the rise in errors it is still an improvement on previous years with 20 bungles at this stage of the 2023-24 campaign and 23 in 2022-23.
Here are the blunders so far:
1. Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth: Senesi red card
The ball accidentally hit Marcos Senesi's arm but he then deliberately batted it away just as Hugo Ekitike was about to run through on goal. The referee did not show Senesi a card having deemed it to not be foul play.
The VAR, Michael Oliver, only looked at the first touch on the arm.
On-field vote: 1-4
VAR vote: 1-4
What the panel said: "There is a secondary action by Senesi, where he moves his arm to flick the ball away, which is a handball offence. The majority feel that this was an obvious goal-scoring opportunity."
2. Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: King's goal is disallowed
The game was goalless in the 21st minute when Josh King scored to give Fulham the lead.
Referee Rob Jones initially gave the goal. It was wrongly ruled out through a VAR review for a foul in the build-up by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah.
This was a high-profile error which led to the VAR, Michael Salisbury, being stood down from his next appointment.
On-field vote: 5-0
VAR vote: 0-5
What the panel said: "Muniz has possession and Chalobah tries to step in to win the ball. This contact is normal in the context of the skill Muniz was performing."
3. Wolves 2-3 Everton: Bueno denied a penalty
Hugo Bueno tried to jink back inside in the 70th minute, but went down under a challenge from Iliman Ndiaye.
Referee Michael Oliver allowed play to continue and the VAR, Craig Pawson, decided there was not enough in it for a review.
Wolves trailed 3-1 at the time and could have got back into the game.
On-field vote: 1-4
VAR vote: 2-3
What the panel said: "Bueno turns back into Ndiaye who does not make any contact on the ball. The contact made is careless and the panel felt that a penalty should have been awarded."
4. Brentford 3-1 Man Utd: Collins escapes red card
Nathan Collins pulled back Bryan Mbeumo as he was about to latch on to a pass.
Referee Craig Pawson gave the penalty but only cautioned Collins. The VAR, Andy Madley, did not think Mbeumo was in control to be denied a scoring chance.
Brentford, 2-1 up in the 71st minute, should have been reduced to 10 men. And Bruno Fernandes' penalty was saved.
On-field vote: 0-5
VAR vote: 0-5
What the panel said: "There is an impactful holding action by Collins which is not an attempt to play the ball. Mbuemo is clearly prevented from having a clear shot at goal."
5. Chelsea 1-3 Brighton: Gusto's high boot
Malo Gusto raised a foot to make a clearance, not realising Yankuba Minteh was behind him.
The Brighton player went down holding his head, but referee Simon Hooper did not believe there was contact. The VAR, Darren England, felt there was no conclusive proof for an overturn.
The game was 1-1 in the 87th minute but Brighton scored twice in stoppage time.
On-field vote: 0-5
VAR vote: 0-5
What the panel said: "Gusto's foot is raised and makes clear contact with the shoulder and head of Minteh and the VAR should have intervened."
6. Crystal Palace 3-3 Bournemouth: Senesi avoids red again
Referee Jarred Gillett was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR, Alex Chilowicz.
Gillett rejected the advice that Senesi should be sent off for a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) foul on Ismaila Sarr. He stuck by his yellow card because he felt the ball was moving away from goal.
Bournemouth were 2-0 up in the 51st minute when the incident happened.
This goes down as a correct VAR intervention, but incorrect final outcome.
On-field vote: 3-2
VAR vote: 3-2
What the panel said: "The majority felt that Sarr was very likely to gain possession with the ability to create an obvious goalscoring opportunity."
7. Brentford 3-1 Newcastle: Burn trips Ouattara
Dan Burn stood on the foot of Dango Ouattara with the Brentford player theatrically throwing himself to the ground.
It was the reaction which caused the VAR, Paul Tierney, to stay out of it.
Brentford did get a penalty shortly afterwards for a clash between the same two players.
On-field vote: 0-5
VAR vote: 2-3
What the panel said: "The panel were unanimous in their view that Burn commits a careless tripping offence. The panel were however split regarding the VAR outcome. Two members felt that the referee's call should stand as the contact was glancing."
8. Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham: Kilman's swipe at the ball
Bournemouth trailed West Ham 2-0 when they were given a penalty in the 66th minute. Max Kilman had handled the ball when he was on the ground.
Referee Thomas Bramall only showed a yellow card, and VAR Michael Oliver supported that.
But there had been a deliberate movement of the arm by Kilman to prevent Evanilson getting a shot off.
On-field vote: 0-5
VAR vote: 1-4
What the panel said: "There is clear evidence that Kilman makes an additional movement with his arm to swipe the ball and in doing so this denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity."
9. Newcastle 2-1 Man City: Foden caught late
The game was goalless after 17 minutes when Phil Foden released a shot. He was caught late by Fabian Schar.
Defenders are given a fair bit of latitude to try to block a shot, and a natural collision will not be ruled as a penalty.
On-field vote: 2-3
VAR vote: 2-3
What the panel said: "Despite Foden getting a shot away, Schar makes a reckless foul challenge. Two panellists supported the decision as contact was a consequence of the momentum of the blocking action, and not clearly reckless."
10. Wolves 1-4 Man Utd: Agbadou handball
Emmanuel Agbadou angled his body into the path of a shot to stop the ball, but VAR Stuart Attwell did not send referee Michael Salisbury to the monitor.
On-field vote: 0-5
VAR vote: 1-4
What the panel said: "Agbadou leans in towards the ball with a straight arm and his arm blocks the shot heading towards goal."
11. Everton 0-1 Arsenal: Gunners get lucky
Everton were losing 1-0 when William Saliba and Thierno Barry went for a bouncing ball. Barry got there first and was kicked by the Arsenal defender.
The VAR, Michael Salisbury, decided there wasn't enough contact to send referee Sam Barrott to the screen.
On-field vote: 2-3
VAR vote: 2-3
What the panel said: "A late challenge where Saliba carelessly kicks Barry with no contact on the ball. Two panellists supported the on-field no penalty call as they felt there was not enough impact and a delayed reaction."
12. Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth: Gusto avoids another spot-kick
For the second time the VAR failed to intervene to award a penalty against Gusto.
It was 2-2 in the 54th minute when Marcus Tavernier played a long cross to David Brooks. Gusto jumped to head it and the ball landed on his outstretched arm.
The VAR, Craig Pawson, wrongly determined that the ball had hit the Chelsea player too high on the arm for handball.
On-field vote: 1-4
VAR vote: 2-3
What the panel said: "The panel felt that the ball hit the 'red zone' of his arm that was raised in an unjustifiable position."
13. Brentford 0-0 Tottenham: Romero escapes red
Igor Thiago ran on to a ball over the top in the 56th minute, with Tottenham defender Cristian Romero making a wild swipe to try to intercept.
Romero made no contact on the ball and brought down the Brentford striker. The VAR, Alex Chilowicz, felt there was no clear and obvious error in not giving the foul.
On-field vote: 2-3
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VAR vote: 2-3
What the panel said: "Romero doesn't play the ball and then brings down Thiago, who has a high likelihood of gaining control of the ball, travelling towards goal, with no covering defenders."