Five Times VAR Got It Wrong in the Premier League

Finding a new way to put itself in the spotlight every single week, it is fair to say that even after over five years of use in the Premier League, fans are still … divided on whether the Video Assistant Referee is a healthy addition to the game, or simply a void into which valuable game minutes are swallowed up without a trace.

Last weekend, the operators at Stockley Park once again came under fire for disallowing what seemed to be a perfectly regulation Fulham goal, as Josh King rolled the ball past Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez in the 21st minute of the match.

Initially given, and King allowed to exuberantly celebrate scoring his first ever Premier League goal, the tension mounted as referee Robert Jones made his way to the pitchside monitor. It was a challenge by Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz in the build up to the goal that was front and centre on the screen.

Attempting to bring a rolling ball under his control, Muniz inadvertently stepped on Trevoh Chalobah’s foot while attempting a roulette-type skill - totally accidental, and clearly not a foul, with Chalobah winning none of the ball. However, the force with which Muniz stepped on the centre-back was adjudged to have been clumsy and uncontrolled, and after four minutes of cycling through replay’s, Jones eventually disallowed the goal.

"After review, Fulham nine (Muniz) commits a careless challenge and stands on the foot of the Chelsea defender (Chalobah)."

🎥 @footballontntpic.twitter.com/DYbpueHCzx

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 30, 2025

Chelsea would go on to win 2-0, in a game that could have looked so different had King’s celebrations gone on. This got us thinking: we know VAR has been wrong before - plenty of times - so what are the five most clear cut errors the video system has made since its introduction to the English top flight? Lets dive in:

5. Bruno Fernandes Red Card - Manchester United vs Tottenham, 2024/25

The first entrant on this list is also the most recent - Bruno Fernandes, never far from controversy, found himself on the end of a totally unjustified red card, a decision which lead fans to question if VAR even looked at the challenge.

In the 42nd minute of the game, Spurs centre back Micky van der Ven, who earlier in the game had gone a marauding length-of-the-pitch run to set up Brennan Johnson for the opener, won possession on the edge of his own area, and distributed into midfield to the feet of James Maddison.

Fernandes was on top of the English midfielder in a flash, but just as he was setting himself to challenge for the ball, the turf gave way beneath him and he slipped, resulting in what was an ungainly, off-balance, ugly stick out of the leg which brought Maddison down.

"No, he slips"
"I don't think it's serious foul play or it's reckless"

The Super Sunday panel don't agree with Bruno Fernandes' red card ❌ pic.twitter.com/Ec9pL5GAZi

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 29, 2024

Maddison certainly embellished the challenge, which despite being studs up, had only seen Fernandes’ ankle clip the knee of the Spurs player, but the Tottenham players’ reactions immediately put pressure on referee Chris Kavanagh to do something about it. Kavanagh's on-field decision was red card, and while VAR checked the decision, they somehow failed to see that it was a clear and obvious error.

It was a petulant challenge, and was worthy of a yellow card simply because it prevented a breakaway, but the tackle itself was not dangerous or pre-meditated. It set Manchester United up for what was a spectacular failure of a season.

4. Rodri’s Handball - Man City vs Everton, 2021/22

Going back in time now, we visit Goodison Park, where City travelled in February of 2022 in pursuit of a second straight title, with Liverpool breathing down their necks.

In the 82nd minute, Manchester City finally broke the deadlock through Phil Foden, who netted a tap in at the back post - with eight minutes remaining, City were clear favourites now to see the game out and take home all three points. However, things got controversial just two minutes later.

Looking for an immediate response, Richarlison saw his effort from a tight angle closed down by Ederson, with the ball ricocheting high into the air. Though the ball had some tricky spin, and changed direction slightly upon landing, Rodri was under no pressure from any Everton player. Totally misjudging the flight of the ball, his attempted chest control turned into a quite blatant strike on the arm.

🗣 "It's a handball!"

Micah Richards believes the decision to not award a penalty for Rodri's handball was 'ridiculous' and has 'cost Everton dearly' 🖐 pic.twitter.com/xqMY3n9KeB

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 26, 2022

Slow motion replay’s even show Rodri’s arm coming away from his body in a bid to bring the ball under his control, and the cries of handball around the stadium were quite deafening. While the operators at Stockley Park checked these replay’s, they somehow arrived at the decision that the flashpoint required no further investigation from referee Paul Tierney, who consequently waved play on.

In his post-match press conference, then Everton manager Frank Lampard had some damning comments: “I have a three-year-old daughter at home who could tell you that's a penalty.” The more you watch it, the harder it is to disagree.

3. Goal-line Technology to the Rescue - Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, 2020/21

An odd one due to the fact that it is the only incident in which goal-line technology has failed to do its job to date, and one which had massive ramifications for the Premier League relegation battle during the heavily COVID affected season in 2020/21.

Aston Villa hosted Sheffield United in the first Premier League game for over three months after the mandatory lockdown period - a beautiful return for the beautiful game to the die hard football fans. And although the game ended in a goalless draw, it will be forever remembered for the contentious goal-line blunder.

In the 42nd minute, Oliver Norwood whipped in free kick from a tight angle that was curling towards the top corner - Aston Villa’s keeper Orjan Nyland caught the ball, but landed off-balance, and awkwardly stumbled backwards into his own net, as Blades players wheeled away to celebrate. However, referee Michael Oliver pointed to his watch and indicated no goal - afterall, the system had never previously failed, with the referee alerted if the ball crosses the goal line.

Should Sheffield United be ahead here!? 🤯

It looked as if #AVFC 'keeper Ørjan Nyland took the ball over his own line but goal-line technology says no goal! ❌ pic.twitter.com/kbSsJajwrF

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 17, 2020

However, replay’s showed that Nyland had indeed carried the ball backwards over his own line, and quite comfortably so. While theories have been put out there that because Nyland fell into the side netting, the goal wasn’t registered, with goal line technology not extending past the post, it was still a miscarriage of justice. VAR was active for the game, and officials at Stockley Park should have overturned the decision after watching the countless different camera angles of the ball crossing the line.

Thanks to the one and only failure of goal line technology, Aston Villa picked up a point from the draw, one which would prove vital to their Premier League survival, as on the final day they secured safety by, you guessed it, a point.

2. Toney’s Legal Offside Goal - Brentford vs Arsenal, 2022/23

Another decision which had big consequences, VAR instead changed the course of the 2022/23 title race with a controversial decision that went against Manchester City’s direct challengers Arsenal.

With 16 minutes remaining, Arsenal were 1-0 at the Emirates against Brentford, who themselves were lying comfortably mid-table, with an outside chance of securing a European spot. Leandro Trossard had netted the opener eight minutes prior, and the Gunners were now looking to see out the game to notch their eighth win in 10 games.

However, VAR once again took centre stage as Brentford equalised. A free kick into the Arsenal box resulted in a game of head tennis, with Ethan Pinnock’s header eventually finding future Arsenal player Christian Norgaard, who hooked the ball across the face of goal for Ivan Toney to tap into an empty net.

Lee Mason FORGOT to draw the offside lines on Ivan Toney's equaliser.

Christian Norgaard was offside in the build-up. Had the lines been drawn, the goal would have been disallowed.

Arsenal would be 8 points clear... 😬 pic.twitter.com/V5TYUzhpNO

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 12, 2023

Replay’s showed that the Dane was clearly in an offside position when Pinnock headed the ball - to the naked eye, it was a tight call, even more so because a fraction of a second later, a couple of Arsenal defenders had retreated, making Norggard look onside - there were certainly no significant appeal from Gunners defenders.

However, reports subsequently emerged that VAR assistant Lee Mason had forgotten to draw the mandatory offside lines as the goal was examined, allowing the goal to stand and thus put a dent in Arsenal’s hunt for a first Premier League title since 2004. Though a win for the Arsenal would not have been enough for Arsenal to swing the title race in the favour (they ended up trailing Man City by five points), their battle could have had a whole different complexion had Toney’s goal been ruled out. A win would have taken the Gunner's eight points clear at the top.

1. A Trifecta of Errors - Tottenham vs Liverpool, 2023/24

Head and shoulders above the rest to take the title of worst VAR performance of all time, Liverpool and Tottenham’s meeting in September 2023 actually featured two clear and obvious errors from the digital refereeing sidekick, plus one which is up for debate.

The first of these saw Curtis Jones dismissed for a poor challenge on Yves Bissouma - the English midfielder was intent on winning the ball, but his foot rolled over it, instead catching the Malian international studs-up on the ankle. While it was certainly dangerous, it wasn’t reckless - Jones had indeed won the ball, but had caught his opposite number on the follow through.

Initially a yellow card, referee Simon Hooper upgraded it to a red after watching the slow-motion replays on the pitchside monitor, which have a nasty habit of making challenges look worse than they are. Still, there were some who thought a red card was a fair decision, and by itself, not all that controversial.

"Letter of the law it's a red card, but I don't believe that should be a red card!" 🤔

Andros Townsend and Jamie Redknapp debate Curtis Jones' red card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/iBxWGjhCl4

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2023

It was five minutes later that the controversy truly began. After a misjudgement in the Spurs backline, Mo Salah latched onto the loose ball and threaded in Luis Diaz, who finished the chance with aplomb into the bottom corner. However, the offside flag went up as soon as the ball hit the net, resulting in the on-field decision as offside.

VAR , who released the footage and audio of the process on social media after the game, checked the goal, and told Hooper to stick to his original decision, thinking he had initially given it as a goal. What followed was a comical passage of audio where expletives are used as VAR officials desperately attempt to stop the game to allow the goal to be given. However, it was too late.

🚨NEW: VAR audio from Luis Diaz's disallowed goal released

Shows VAR only realising on-field decision was offside after the game had restarted, followed by expletives.

Replay operator and AVAR flag it first, there is discussion over whether to stop the game, but they don't. pic.twitter.com/VB29SDBuVh

— Noah Robson (@noahrobson_) October 3, 2023

To put the icing on the cake, Liverpool were then reduced to nine men in the most ridiculous of circumstances with the score tied at 1-1. While tracking back to assist in defence, Diogo Jota clipped Destiny Udogie as he ran forward, with the player going to ground as a result. Already on a yellow card, Jota’s face was one of disbelief as Hooper reached into his pocket and showed him a second, sending the late Portuguese player for an early bath.

Replay’s illustrated that despite Udogie going down, Jota made no attempt to even make a challenge, with the Spurs left back instead clipping the Liverpool player’s knee with his boot as he attempted to drive forward.

No outrage from bitter rivals when Jota ended up with a red card for this...

Zero contact... Also the player waved an imaginary card at ref who was looking at him...

pic.twitter.com/wLres5Mz4Y

— Shaun (@LfcShaunjudge) January 2, 2024

This encyclopedia of misjudgements culminated in Spurs stealing a dramatic 96th minute winner through a Joel Matip own goal, with the referee’s coming under heavy abuse after the game. It was an unholy trifecta of errors, and it is fair to argue that football fans have had trust issues with VAR ever since.