The Premier League is a world of high drama, passion, and relentless scrutiny, but in recent years, nothing has captured the attention of fans, pundits, and players quite like Video Assistant Refereeing. VAR arrived in England for the 2019/2020 season with the promise of fairness, clarity, and reducing human error in refereeing. It was heralded as a revolutionary tool, a technological safeguard to ensure the beautiful game remained just that — beautiful and fair. Yet, as the 2025/26 season reaches its midpoint, the debate around VAR has only intensified, and not necessarily in its favor. If anything, it has become a lightning rod for criticism, controversy, and endless debate, sparking conversations in pubs, social media, and football offices across the country.
From the very beginning of this season, the Premier League’s VAR system has made headlines for the wrong reasons. Despite its best intentions, the tool designed to correct mistakes seems to be creating them at an increasing rate. According to the Key Match Incidents panel, a group of five members who examine the week’s refereeing decisions, VAR errors in the first half of the season have already reached thirteen — a 30% increase compared to the same stage last year. In 2024/25, the tally was ten. While this number might appear small to casual observers, the consequences on matches, points, and careers are anything but insignificant.
Fans are split. Some insist that VAR is a necessary innovation in modern football, a way to ensure that match outcomes are fairer and that key moments are reviewed with precision. Others claim that VAR is ruining the sport, removing spontaneity, adding delays, and creating situations where players, coaches, and fans never know whether a goal, a penalty, or a card will stand. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between, but the growing list of mistakes this season raises serious questions about how VAR is being implemented in England’s top flight
From the very first match of the season, VAR set the tone for controversy. Liverpool traveled to Bournemouth in the opening game and secured a thrilling 4-2 victory. The match itself was memorable for Liverpool fans, but it became infamous for a VAR oversight involving Marco Senesi, the Bournemouth centre-back. Hugo Ekitike was racing toward goal when the ball struck Senesi’s arm, and then, more deliberately, hit it again. Referee Michael Oliver only reviewed the first touch, missing the deliberate handling that should have warranted a yellow card. Senesi avoided punishment, a decision that would become emblematic of the season’s early VAR failings and a reminder that technology alone cannot replace human judgment.
The controversy quickly spread across London when Fulham faced Chelsea in a tense encounter. Josh King appeared to score for Fulham, giving the home side the lead in a thrilling encounter. The goal was initially allowed by referee Rob Jones, but VAR, manned by Michael Salisbury, intervened to disallow it for a supposed foul in the build-up. Rodrigo Muniz, involved in the play, was judged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah. The decision, however, was later found to be incorrect by the KMI panel. Salisbury faced consequences, being stood down from his next VAR appointment. The incident highlighted a fundamental flaw in the system: the person behind the screen has enormous power, and mistakes in interpretation can have massive consequences.
Not every VAR error involved goals being disallowed. Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered in a match against Everton when Hugo Bueno was brought down by Iliman Ndiaye. The referee, Michael Oliver, waved play on, and the VAR team allowed it, despite the clear foul. Wolves were trailing 3-1 at the time, but the potential penalty could have dramatically changed the match. VAR’s failure to intervene demonstrated that even in situations with direct and obvious contact, the system could falter.
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The Premier League’s pattern of inconsistency was further highlighted in a clash between Brentford and Manchester United. Nathan Collins, playing for Brentford, pulled back Bryan Mbeumo in a situation the KMI panel unanimously agreed warranted a red card. Instead, Collins received a yellow, while United were awarded a penalty that was saved. The consequences of such misjudgments are profound. One red card can change the entire complexion of a game, affecting tactics, momentum, and ultimately, the points on the table.
Incidents kept coming. In Brighton’s match against Chelsea, Malo Gusto’s reckless high boot struck Yankuba Minteh’s head, yet play was allowed to continue. The VAR did not intervene, and the KMI panel later concluded there was ‘clear contact’. Again, the technology intended to prevent errors failed to deliver clarity. Even when referees double-check decisions at pitchside monitors, as Jarred Gillett did with Senesi in Bournemouth’s match against Crystal Palace, human interpretation still dominates outcomes, and errors persist.
West Ham’s Max Kilman was another beneficiary of a VAR misjudgment when he swiped at a ball with his hand, conceding a penalty that should have merited a red card. The match ended 2-2, but the missed sending-off altered the game’s narrative. Wolverhampton’s Dango Ouattara also suffered injustice when Dan Burn fouled him inside the box, yet no penalty was given, and VAR failed to correct the error. The season was shaping up to be a catalogue of misapplied justice, leaving players, managers, and fans frustrated.
VAR’s problems were not limited to fouls or cards. Newcastle’s victory over Manchester City featured Fabian Schar catching Phil Foden with his studs, yet no penalty was awarded. Similarly, Emmanuel Agbadou’s handling in a Manchester United strike went unpunished. Arsenal, too, found themselves beneficiaries, with William Saliba avoiding a penalty against Everton despite clear contact. Repetition of mistakes, such as Gusto’s second incident in Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw, further illustrated the unpredictability and inconsistency of VAR decision-making.
Tottenham’s Cristian Romero committed a rash challenge against Brentford, swiping at the ball but missing entirely. He went unpunished, as the VAR deemed there was no ‘clear and obvious’ error in failing to give the foul. This season, the VAR system appears caught between two extremes: either it intervenes incorrectly, re-refereeing decisions and altering outcomes that should have stood, or it fails to intervene, allowing blatant fouls and infractions to go unpunished.
The KMI panel has made its verdicts public, but the larger debate continues. Should VAR exist in its current form? Is it truly an improvement over human refereeing alone, or has it introduced a new layer of confusion and controversy? Fans, pundits, and even players have offered opinions. Some argue for refinement — better training, clearer protocols, more accountability. Others call for a complete rethink, suggesting that VAR’s intrusion into the game’s flow, emotion, and drama undermines the sport itself.
Every decision has consequences beyond the immediate game. Points lost or gained due to VAR decisions can affect league standings, relegation battles, European qualification, and even financial rewards. Players’ reputations can be tarnished. Managers’ tactics and careers can be questioned. VAR, intended as a safeguard, has inadvertently become a source of tension, debate, and uncertainty.
As the Premier League moves forward, this season’s 13 VAR errors serve as a cautionary tale. Despite technological advancement, the human element remains vital. Interpretation, context, and judgment cannot be entirely replaced by software. Clubs, players, and fans must learn to navigate this reality, understanding that while VAR is here to stay, it is not infallible. Mistakes will continue, debates will rage, and the drama of football, enriched by VAR controversies, will endure.
The 2025/26 season may ultimately be remembered not just for goals, wins, or points, but for the lessons it teaches about technology, fairness, and the ever-evolving nature of football. VAR is a mirror, reflecting both the game’s brilliance and its imperfections. And as fans watch, argue, and celebrate, one thing is certain: the conversation about VAR will continue long after the final whistle. Mistakes may frustrate, controversy may rage, but football, as ever, will remain the beautiful game, imperfect and unpredictable, just as it was always meant to be.
