News Focus
- Arsenal and Chelsea received more favourable refereeing errors than any other Premier League clubs this season.
- The Key Match Incidents Panel recorded 25 VAR mistakes, with Arsenal avoiding three penalties and three red cards.
- Leeds United suffered the worst net score at minus four, without a single decision going their way.
- Fan surveys show deep division over whether VAR should continue or be removed from English football.
Arsenal and Chelsea gained heavily from video assistant referee mistakes during the recent Premier League campaign. Official figures reveal these London sides received the largest share of favourable officiating errors throughout the season.
Mikel Arteta’s squad lifted the league trophy after completing a historic campaign. The North London club became the first team to finish a full season without receiving any red cards or conceding penalties. This clean disciplinary record played a key role in their success.
However, independent analysis from the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel tells a different story. Their experts identified seven separate errors that benefited the Gunners. The panel concluded that opponents should have received three spot-kicks against Arsenal. They also found three incidents where Arsenal players deserved sending-offs.
Kai Havertz escaped a red card for a reckless lunge from behind on Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu. Defender Gabriel should have seen red during the clash with Manchester City. Midfielder Mikel Merino also avoided a second yellow card against Aston Villa when the score stood at 2-0.
Chelsea enjoyed similar fortune with eight decisions going in their favour. Two major VAR interventions wrongly assisted the West London club. Officials incorrectly ruled out a Fulham goal and awarded the Blues a penalty against Crystal Palace that should not have stood. The Stamford Bridge side also avoided penalties against Brighton and Bournemouth.
The panel recorded 25 VAR errors in total across the campaign. This number rose from 18 mistakes in the previous term. Despite this increase, the figures show steady long-term improvement. Officials made 31 errors two seasons ago and 38 three seasons previously.
Bournemouth matched Chelsea with four favourable decisions. Defender Marcos Senesi should have received two red cards for deliberate handball against Liverpool and a dangerous tackle against Palace. The South Coast side also benefited from an incorrect penalty award during their return match with the Eagles.
Several clubs suffered heavily from poor decisions. Crystal Palace and Everton each faced three unfavourable errors. Everton should have won penalties against Arsenal, West Ham, and Manchester City.
Brentford experienced the worst treatment overall. The Bees suffered five mistakes against them while gaining only four in their favour. Leeds United faced the toughest net result at minus four. Remarkably, the Yorkshire club did not receive a single favourable error all season.
Fan opinion remains split regarding VAR technology. One survey by the Football Supporters’ Association found three-quarters of fans want the system removed completely. Another poll by YouGov suggested most supporters prefer keeping VAR with improvements rather than scrapping it entirely.
The Professional Game Match Officials body acknowledges the increase in mistakes. However, they highlight positive trends including fewer serious foul play errors and quicker review times. Delays dropped to 47 seconds per match compared to 64 seconds last term. The KMI Panel meets weekly to assess decisions, with five members including former players and coaches reviewing every major incident.