All 13 Premier League VAR Mistakes in 2025/26 - Chelsea and Arsenal Benefit

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Irrespective of whether fans are for or against it, Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) is poised to stay in the Premier League – and that's despite, judging by the retrospective conversations made during the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel, a 30% increase in mistakes season-on-season.

Ever since its introduction at the start of the 2019/2020 season following a unanimous vote by clubs in November 2018, there has been plenty of disagreement surrounding the utilisation of the VAR. Many believe it's a good addition; others believe it's ruining the beautiful game.

Not helping its case is that face that date, collected by BBC Sport, has proved that mistakes are getting more commonplace as the seasons go on. Compared to 2024/25, when the tally was 10 by this point in the season, there have been 13 VAR mistakes.

Referee Jarred Gillett looks at a VAR screen

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The KMI panel, consisting of five members, meets on a weekly basis to discuss and dissect the latest decisions – from goals to red cards to the issuing of penalties, and they've claimed that VAR errors have risen to 13 in the first half of the Premier League campaign. Here, in detail, is every mistake made since the curtain-raiser in August.

1. Senesi Avoids Card for Deliberate Handball

It didn't take long for VAR to make a stamp on the 2025/26 Premier League as it made a shocker in the first game of the season: Liverpool's 4-2 win against Bournemouth.

The Reds were on the break with Hugo Ekitike bearing down on goal when the ball accidentally struck the arm of Marco Senesi. His arm then hit the ball again, this time more deliberately, but the referee did not show the Argentine a yellow card. Michael Oliver, on VAR, only looked at the first touch on the arm.

2. Fulham's King has Goal Disallowed Incorrectly

An all-London affair between Fulham and Chelsea was shrouded in controversy thanks to VAR. Josh King scored to give Fulham the lead and referee Rob Jones initially green-lit the goal – but it was then ruled out, incorrectly, for a foul in the build-up by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah.

It was that bad an error that Michael Salisbury, who was manning VAR, was stood down from his next appointment. The panel were unanimous in deciding this was the wrong call.

Rob Jones Chelsea Fulham

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3. Bueno Denied Penalty In 3-2 Loss to Everton

Wolverhampton Wanderers were trailing 3-1 in the 70th minute when Hugo Bueno cut inside and was chopped down by Everton's Iliman Ndiaye. Michael Oliver waved away any shouts from those associated with the Molineux outfit.

The Senegal international completely missed the ball, Oliver allowed play to continue and those on VAR opted not to correct him despite the careless contact on the Wolves man.

4. Collins Evades Sending off vs Man Utd After Mbeumo Incident

A decision which the panel unanimously agreed was incorrect, Nathan Collins was counting his lucky stars when he pulled back Bryan Mbeumo as the latter was about to latch onto a pass to shoot on goal. Keith Hackett believed a red card would suffice.

Manchester United were awarded a penalty for their troubles, but Collins was lucky to pick up a yellow card as a result. At the time, the Bees were 2-1 up – and being reduced to ten men would've changed the game's complexity. Bruno Fernandes' spot kick was also saved.

5. VAR Didn't Intervene on Gusto High Boot vs Brighton

Malo Gusto, in an attempt to clear the ball, raised his boot above the height required and made contact with the head of Yankuba Minteh, whose Brighton side ran out 3–1 winners on this occasion.

In terms of the collision, Simon Hooper waved play on after assuming no contact was made, while the VAR was not convinced there was enough evidence to send him to the monitor. Unanimously, the panel thought there was 'clear contact' from the Frenchman.

6. Senesi (Again!) Avoids Early Bath

Months on and Senesi was lucky to avoid another red card. Bournemouth were 2-0 up at home against Crystal Palace and referee Jarred Gillett rejected the advice that the centre-back should have been sent down the tunnel for denying Ismaila Sarr of a goalscoring opportunity.

Gillett stuck by his decision of a yellow card because he felt the ball was moving away from goal and, because the referee double-checked his decision at the pitchside monitor, this incident went gone down as a correct VAR intervention, but was an incorrect final outcome.

7. Burn Fouls Bournemouth's Ouattara, No Penalty Given

As part of Brentford's brilliant run, that included a 3-1 win over Newcastle United – but it could've been even worse for the latter, who got away with one after Dan Burn avoided giving away a penalty.

The Englishman fouled Brentford's Dango Ouattara inside the penalty box and there was unanimous agreement that a spot kick was the correct decision. It was Ouatarra's reaction that prevented the VAR, Paul Tierney, from getting involved.

checking VAR

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8. Kilman Lucky to Avoid Red After Deliberate Handball

West Ham United's barren run looked to be coming to an end when they were 2-0 up against Bournemouth, though that all changed when Max Kilman swiped at the ball with his hand and conceded a penalty, later converted by Marcus Tavernier.

The former Futsal ace was given a yellow card, but the panel thought his deliberate action should have resulted in a red. The match ended 2-2.

9. Foden Caught by Schar's Studs, No Penalty Given

Newcastle's 2-1 win over Manchester City was goalless after 17 minutes when Fabian Schar caught Phil Foden late. His studs connected with the boot of the Englishman, who had just let off a shot but was left in a heap on the floor in agony.

Schar managed to get away with it after the referee waved play on and VAR opted not to intervene, telling him to utilise the pitchside monitor. Who knows, if a penalty was awarded, what the final outcome may have been instead?