Chelsea players jump up in the air
Crystal Palace were denied due a little-known Premier League law at the weekend (Image: Getty)
The Premier League made a thrilling return over the weekend, but it was once again accompanied by VAR controversy. Six teams, including Manchester City and Liverpool, secured maximum points on the opening day, with Arsenal clinching a narrow victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
However, it was the implementation of VAR that had fans talking as several contentious decisions sparked heated debates online. The biggest discussion came during Chelsea's match against Crystal Palace, where Eberechi Eze's free-kick was disallowed due to a breach of one of the lesser-known rules of the game. Elsewhere, Matheus Cunha was denied a penalty for United against Arsenal, while Marcos Senesi's attempt to swat the ball away with his hand for Bournemouth at Anfield also drew some anger. Here, Express Sport delves into some of the most debated decisions made by VAR during the Premier League's opening weekend.
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Eberechi Eze's free-kick disallowed
One of the most controversial decisions saw Eze's spectacular free-kick disallowed by VAR for Palace against Chelsea. The 27-year-old unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that proved too much for Robert Sanchez and seemed to have given Palace an unexpected lead at Stamford Bridge early in the first half.
However, the celebrations were abruptly cut short as the goal underwent review. To the disbelief of the Palace fans, the goal was subsequently disallowed because one of their players was adjudged to have stood too close to the Chelsea wall.
Referee Darren England announced to the crowd: "After review, away number six [Marc Guehi] is less than one metre away from the wall as the shot is taken. Therefore, it's an indirect free kick and a disallowed goal."
Crystal Palace players celebrate
Eze's free-kick was ruled out for a 'wall' intervention (Image: Getty)
Guehi was ajudged to have been encroaching on Chelsea's free-kick wall - and Moises Caicedo in particular - according to law 13 of the International Football Association Board. This regulation reads: "Where three or more defending team players form a 'wall', all attacking team players must remain at least 1m (1 yard) from the 'wall' until the ball is in play."
The clash concluded 0-0, and supporters were swift to take to social media to express their fury at the controversial ruling. One said: "Just to be clear, that Eze freekick shouldn't have been ruled out. I would have lost my mind if we had a goal chopped off for that."
Another wrote: "If we had scored a freekick like Eze's today and it was ruled out for the same reason my head would be on mars," whilst a third added: "Palace were well and truly robbed earlier that Eze freekick should've stood."
But despite the outcry, according to the laws of the game, the correct decision was made by VAR.
Senesi avoids sending off
During Friday evening's opening fixture of the 2025/26 season, defending champions Liverpool faced Bournemouth at Anfield. Early in the first half, Cherries defender Marcos Senesi seemed to have deliberately handled the ball close to the centre circle, having initially tried to bring it under control with his thigh.
Without this intervention, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike appeared to be racing through on goal unopposed, sparking a torrent of online criticism over what seemed like a glaring VAR oversight. One said: "PGMOL an absolute laughing stock just 13 minutes into the new Premier League season as a blatant handball and red card ignored by VAR, despite the whole world watching Bournemouth's Senesi deliberately deny Ekitike and Liverpool a chance to score."
Another added: "That was a clear handball by Senesi," while a third questioned: "How did senesi not get booked for that handball tho?"
However, the incident was reviewed by VAR at the time, with the Premier League Match Centre X account clarifying the confusion for social media users through a post published moments after the controversy. They said: "The referee's call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal."
Marcos Senesi touches the ball with his hand
Senesi escaped a sending off for his handball (Image: Getty)
Bournemouth penalty shout missed
In the same match, the Cherries were refused an opportunity to level the score on the stroke of half-time with Liverpool 1-0 to the good. When a cross was delivered into the penalty area towards Senesi, he directed it back across the box into the path of an advancing Alex Scott.
However, Alexis Mac Allister contested the ball and both players collapsed in a heap on the pitch, with Bournemouth supporters demanding a penalty. It remains uncertain whether the supposed infringement was examined by VAR, but fans were immediately angered about the incident across social media.
Accompanied by footage of the moment, one supporter said: "Penalty against Liverpool in the first half? Didn't get a replay or even a mention of it at half time.."
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett also felt Bournemouth deserved a penalty. He said: "Bournemouth had a real strong shout for a penalty kick when Alexis Mac Allister came in and clattered Alex Scott.
"It was a careless challenge, and as such, it is a foul. This should have resulted in a penalty kick to Bournemouth."
Nothing was awarded to the visiting side, however, and Liverpool proceeded to triumph 4-2 - despite a determined Bournemouth comeback in the second half.
Bournemouth player celebrates with arms outstretched
The Reds won despite a spirited fight from the Cherries (Image: Getty)
Konsa red card upheld by VAR
During Aston Villa's stalemate with Newcastle, Ezri Konsa left his side a man down for the bulk of the second half following his foul that denied an "obvious goal scoring opportunity".
In the 66th minute, a pass was hit towards makeshift striker Anthony Gordon, who found himself clear through on goal. But Konsa dragged the England star back just past the centre circle, resulting in a red card from referee Craig Pawson - a decision subsequently reviewed and upheld by VAR.
The Premier League Match Centre updated viewers on the decision, as they wrote: "The referee's call of red card to Konsa for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) was checked and confirmed by VAR."
Ezri Konsa talks to the referee
Ezri Konsa was sent off for a foul as the last man (Image: Getty)
Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for the majority of the half-hour left at Villa Park, the Magpies couldn't make it count, and both teams settled for a 0-0 draw.
Matheus Cunha incident
Several Manchester United supporters felt hard done by following their 1-0 loss to Arsenal after a controversial moment involving William Saliba and Matheus Cunha in the dying moments.
During the final minute of normal time, the ball was crossed to the Portuguese midfielder when Saliba seemed to make contact from behind. Replays showed the Frenchman's left boot striking his rival.
Despite Cunha's collapse in the box, United's penalty claims were dismissed by Simon Hooper who waved play on, before VAR determined that it didn't merit a spot-kick.
William Saliba makes a tackle
Fans were less than impressed with the penalty decision (Image: Getty)
The decision sparked a divide among fans and two former professionals – ex-footballer Jay Bothroyd and ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, who disagreed during Sky Sports' ref watch segment.
Gallagher felt the right call had been made, while Bothroyd argued that Saliba had "gone through the back" of Cunha, with the difference of opinions between the two suggesting the incident didn't constitute a "clear and obvious" error.
Neither the on-field referee nor VAR awarded the decision, and Arsenal managed to clinch all three points on the day at Old Trafford.