Burnley were one of the clubs most adversely affected by VAR calls in the Premier League this season.
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That’s according to a study by BBC Sport, who claim the Clarets would have been four points better off had video assistant referee (VAR) not been in use.
While it would have made no difference to their end fate, still suffering relegation back to the Championship, it does back up suggestions that Burnley have been hard done by this season.
The Clarets would have finished the season on 26 points, rather than 22, seven clear of bottom side Wolves and 17 points adrift of safety.
BBC Sport assessed how VAR interventions may have impacted games at key moments – and 29 games were identified where VAR “almost certainly” influenced the final result.
Bournemouth and Tottenham were the other two top flight sides to have lost four points as a result of officiating decisions.
The study found that, without VAR, the Cherries would have finished in fifth and qualified for the Champions League.
VAR checked for a handball during Burnley's final day draw with Wolves. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
VAR checked for a handball during Burnley's final day draw with Wolves. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
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The club with the most points gained was Brentford, with three of those coming in that dramatic 4-3 win at Turf Moor in February. Without VAR, the Bees would have dropped from ninth place to 13th.
The other big winners were Arsenal and Manchester United. While the Gunners still came out as champions in the alternative table, they would have finished with four points fewer, ensuring the title race would have gone down to the final day, placing more significance on Manchester City’s game against Aston Villa.
BBC Sport’s study also provided a net score for each club for VAR interventions. Chelsea finished on top of this table with +6 VAR decisions going in their favour. At the other end of the spectrum, Everton sit bottom on -5.
The Toffees were also the only side not to get a VAR decision overturned in their favour, the first time this has occurred in seven seasons of the technology. David Moyes’ side didn’t receive a penalty all season either.
As for the Clarets, they sit on -2 alongside Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Sunderland and West Ham, having had just three calls go in their favour all season long.
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