Three more VAR errors confirmed by Premier League panel
TL;DR
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel confirmed three additional VAR errors this season, bringing the total to 23. Everton was denied three penalties, including one against Manchester City, making them the only team without a VAR decision in their favor.
Key points
- Premier League confirms three more VAR errors this season
- Total VAR errors now stands at 23
- Everton denied three penalties this season
- Two penalties were for holding offences
- Everton is the only team without a VAR decision in their favor
David Moyes has seen his Everton side wrongly denied three VAR penalties in the Premier League this season [Getty Images]
Three more video assistant referee errors have been confirmed by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel, taking the total this season to 23.
The panel has recorded three errors involving penalties, two of which should have been awarded for holding offences.
Everton, the only team not to get a VAR intervention in their favour this season, were wrongly denied a spot-kick against Manchester City.
David Moyes' side led 3-2 at Goodison Park when, on a corner, Bernardo Silva held back Toffees midfielder Merlin Rohl - unseen by referee Michael Oliver.
The VAR Paul Howard decided the holding had taken place before the corner was taken, so he could not intervene to award a penalty.
"If that doesn't get given as a penalty, then it's an absolute free-for-all from now on," Moyes said after the game.
All five members of the KMI panel agreed with Moyes, saying "there is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play".
City equalised deep into stoppage time through Jeremy Doku to snatch a 3-3 draw.
It is the third time this season Everton should have been given a penalty through video review, the others being in a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal and a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
The panel also voted 5-0 that a penalty awarded to Bournemouth in the 29th minute of their 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace should have been overturned.
Marcos Senesi went to ground claiming contact from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and referee Rob Jones pointed to the spot. The VAR Peter Bankes decided to uphold the decision.
"Henderson drops the ball, reaches for it and Senesi goes down under very minimal contact from the goalkeeper," the panel said.
"The referee's call of a penalty was incorrect and that VAR should have intervened to recommend a review."
- How controversial VAR calls have defined two title battles
- Could Southampton be kicked out of play-offs over Spygate?
- It's West Ham or Spurs - how relegation fight is shaping up
Hammers denied two penalties at Brentford
West Ham should have been given two spot-kicks in their 3-0 loss at Brentford - though one of the decisions was not considered to have reached the VAR threshold.
Keane Lewis-Potter held Tomas Soucek "in a clear non-footballing action which impacted the West Ham player's movement" and the panel unanimously felt the VAR Tony Harrington should have stepped in.
It was also felt referee Craig Pawson should have pointed to the spot in the 77th minute when Yehor Yarmolyuk slipped and brought down Pablo inside the area.
That was a split 3-2 vote for a spot-kick, but 4-1 against a VAR review.
The 23 errors is an increase on last season, with 17 at the same stage of the 2024-25 campaign.
It is, however, lower than the 30 mistakes logged after 35 rounds of the 2023-24 season.
In other judgements, the panel voted 4-1 that the VAR was correct not to intervene on the potential handball by Benjamin Sesko before the Manchester United striker scored against Liverpool.
It noted that the majority of the panel deemed "there was no conclusive evidence of a handball".
The VAR red card for Sunderland's Dan Ballard for pulling on the hair of Tolu Arokodare was also supported 4-1.
Q&A
What are the confirmed VAR errors in the Premier League this season?
The Premier League confirmed three additional VAR errors, bringing the total to 23 for the season.
Which team has not received a VAR decision in their favor this season?
Everton is the only team that has not received a VAR intervention in their favor this season.
How many penalties has Everton been wrongly denied this season?
Everton has been wrongly denied three penalties this season, including one against Manchester City.
What types of VAR errors were confirmed by the Premier League panel?
The panel confirmed three errors involving penalties, two of which were for holding offences.
