VAR WATCH: The Premier League returned this weekend, and as usual, the games were full of moments that created heated discussions amongst supporters
Arsenal's William Saliba vies for possession with Manchester United's Matheus Cunha during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Manchester United and Arsenal were involved in VAR drama over the weekend
(Image: Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
The Premier League returned at the weekend – and with it so did the VAR controversy. Six teams picked up maximum points on the opening day, including Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, who narrowly overcame Manchester United at Old Trafford.
But it was the video assistant referee that has dominated the headlines once again, with a number of contentious decisions sparking debate online. Arguably the biggest talking point came during Chelsea's opener against Crystal Palace, which saw Eberechi Eze's free-kick ruled out for contravening one of the little-known rules of the game.
Elsewhere, Everton's James Tarkowski was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box during their Monday Night Football clash against Leeds, much to the anger of manager David Moyes. VAR backed up referee Chris Kavanagh's decision before Lukas Nmecha converted from the spot on debut to hand his side a 1-0 win.
Matheus Cunha was also denied a penalty for United against Arsenal, while Marcos Senesi attempt to swat the ball away with his hand for Bournemouth at Anfield also prompted discussion. Here, Mirror Football have delved into some of the most debated decisions made by VAR during the matchday of the Premier League season.
Leeds penalty causes a stir
Everton defender Tarkowski was penalised on Monday evening after a goal-bound shot from Leeds' Anton Stach appeared to hit his elbow in the box before thumping away for a corner. The referee pointed to the spot while the Toffees' skipper pleaded his innocence, and the on-field decision was confirmed by VAR.
This error ended up costing Everton the match as they would lose 1-0, and manager Moyes fumed after the full-time whistle, stating: "I think it's a really poor decision. VAR had a chance to undo it. They tried to say he was leaning to the ball. Surely you're allowed to lean with your hands by your sides!"
Everton’s James Tarkowski makes contact with the ball which subsequently lead to a Leeds United penalty during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton FC
Tarkowski was deemed to have handled the ball in the area
Not all agreed with this outlook, though, with Gary Neville admitting on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football: "The guilt was written all over Tarkowski's face. He knows it is a penalty. Tarkowski moved his arm towards the ball. He leans into it and he blocks it. It is a penalty, and he knows what he has done."
Neville's colleague, Jamie Carragher, agreed, adding: "I think it is. I think he [Tarkowski] knows what he is doing. It is something I would do. Has he lost his bearings? It is a split-second decision. I think it is definitely a penalty."
Eberechi Eze free-kick ruled ruled out
One of the most talked-about decisions saw Eze's stunning free-kick ruled out by VAR. Eze struck a venomous effort from outside the box that was too powerful for Robert Sanchez and appeared to have given Palace a shock lead at Stamford Bridge early in the first-half.
However, the celebrations were quickly halted as the goal was checked. The goal was subsequently ruled out to the incredulity of the Palace fans, with one of their players deemed 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."
Guehi was deemed to have been encroaching on Chelsea's free-kick wall - Moises Caicedo in particular - as per law 13 of the International Football Association Board. This law states: "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."
Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace scores but the goal is later disallowed by VAR during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on August 17, 2025 in London, England.
Eze's free-kick was disallowed due to a wall encroachment(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
The match between finished 0-0, and viewers were quick to jump on social media to share their disdain at the early decision. One wrote: "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 said: "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," and a third added: "Palace were well and truly robbed earlier that Eze freekick should've stood."
However, despite the uproar, according to the laws of the game the correct decision was made by VAR.
Senesi escapes red card
In the first game of the new campaign on Friday night, reigning champions Liverpool took on Bournemouth at Anfield. Early in the first half, Cherries defender Marcos Senesi appeared to have handled the ball near the halfway line, after initially attempting to control it with his thigh.
Without this intervention, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike looked to be away through on goal unchallenged, leading to a barrage of comments online criticising what seemed to be a huge miss from VAR.
One wrote: "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 said: "That was a clear handball by Senesi," while a third noted: "How did senesi not get booked for that handball tho?"
However, the decision was checked by VAR at the time, and the Premier League Match Centre X account cleared up the confusion for social media users via a tweet posted minutes after the incident. It read: "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."
Bournemouth penalty not checked
In the same game, the Cherries were denied a chance to equalise on the stroke of half-time with the scoreline still a 1-0. When a ball was floated into the box towards Senesi, he headed it back across the area into the path of an onrushing Alex Scott.
However, Alexis Mac Allister challenged for the ball and the pair ended up in a heap on the ground, with Bournemouth fans screaming for a spot kick. It is unclear whether the alleged foul was checked by VAR, but supporters were up in arms about the moment on social media immediately.
Alongside a clip of the incident, one wrote: "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 believed Bournemouth should have been awarded 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."
However, nothing was given and Liverpool went on to win the game 4-2, despite a spirited Bournemouth fightback.
Konsa red card confirmed by VAR
In Aston Villa's goalless draw with Newcastle, Ezri Konsa left his team with 10 men for a good majority of the second half due to his foul denying an "obvious goal scoring opportunity". In the 66th minute of the game, a ball was clipped into makeshift striker Anthony Gordon, who was through on goal.
However, Konsa pulled the England international back just beyond the halfway line, and received a red card for his troubles by referee Craig Pawson - which was then checked by VAR and confirmed.
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 of Aston Villa is shown a red card and sent off by referee Craig Pawson during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on August 16, 2025 in Birmingham, England.
Ezri Konsa left his team a man down for much of the second half
Fans were less irritated by this decision, with many agreeing that the referee and his video assistant on the sidelines had made the correct decision. One wrote: "Hard to argue against the earlier Aston Villa red card."
But despite having a man advantage for the best part of half an hour at Villa Park, the Magpies failed to capitalise and the two sides played out a 0-0 draw.
Matheus Cunha trip
Some Manchester United fans felt hard done by after their 1-0 defeat by Arsenal following an incident involving William Salbia and Matheus Cunha right at the death. In the final minute of normal time, the ball was crossed into the Portuguese midfielder when Saliba appeared to go through the back of Matheus, with footage showing the Frenchman's left foot connecting with his opponent's.
Cunha went down but United's appeals for a penalty were waved away by Simon Hooper who allowed play to continue, before VAR concluded that it did not warrant a penalty.
The decision split fans online and two former professionals in their respective fields, with Jay Bothroyd and Dermot Gallagher unable to agree on Sky Sports' ref watch segment. While Gallagher believed the correct decision had been reached, Bothroyd felt Saliba had "gone through the back" of Cunha, arguably proving that the incident did not meet the criteria for a "clear and obvious" error.
Regardless, the decision wasn't given on the field or by VAR and Arsenal held on to secure all three points on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford.
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