Man Utd penalty controversy headlines 13 Premier League VAR errors this season
Man Utd penalty controversy headlines 13 Premier League VAR errors this season
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It might feel to some fans as though VAR errors are taking place every single weekend in the Premier League, but the Key Match Incidents panel has found the total to be significantly lower. That's not to say there haven't been some particularly damaging mistakes. The 13 errors this season identified by the KMI panel include one which played its part in Erik ten Hag's downfall at Manchester United, while high-flyers Nottingham Forest have also been impacted.
The panel suggests 66 of 70 VAR interventions have been correct this term, with the total of 13 mistakes - comprised of four incorrect interventions and nine missed interventions - a reduction on the equivalent point last season, it has been claimed. The total stood at 20 at this stage last season, rising to 30 by the end of the campaign. While the KMI panel has yet to shed light on the nine missed interventions, details of the remaining four mistakes have been provided. Here, Mirror Football takes a closer look.
The first of the four errors came all the way back in August. Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara thought he had scored a late winner against Newcastle, only for VAR to intervene despite on-field ref David Coote awarding the goal. Ouattara rose highest to head home Lewis Cook's late corner, but there were questions over whether the Burkinabe international had used his arm. That's how VAR official Tim Robinson saw it, but the panel has since disagreed.
Do you believe VAR is improving? Have your say in the comments section. The decision meant the match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the 93rd-minute effort - had it been allowed to stand - could easily have turned that into a 2-1 win for the Cherries. Andoni Iraola's side were happier at full-time in the reverse fixture in January, when Justin Kluivert's hat-trick helped them come away from St James' Park with a 4-1 win.
Now to late October, when Manchester United travelled to East London with then-manager Erik ten Hag under pressure. Crysensio Summerville and Casemiro exchanged second-half goals to leave the game all square heading into stoppage time when United defender Matthijs de Ligt challenged Hammers striker Danny Ings on the edge of the box. Coote was the on-field ref on this occasion as well, and decided there was no reason to intervene. It was Michael Oliver on VAR duty, though, and he disagreed - sending the ref over to the monitor.
A spot-kick was eventually awarded, with Jarrod Bowen scoring what proved to be the winner from 12 yards. Ten Hag was furious, complaining there was no "clear and obvious mistake" to prompt the intervention, and the Dutchman would be gone before United's next game. We now move on to November, and a game at Goodison Park. Everton and Brentford played out a goalless draw, but things could have been different had the visitors' captain Christian Norgaard not been sent off before half-time.
On-field referee Chris Kavanagh didn't penalise Norgaard after the Dane slid in attempting to connect with an Ethan Pinnock header and caught Everton keeper Jordan Pickford. Kavanagh was sent to the screen by VAR official Matt Donohue, though, and opted to dole out a red card. Brentford appealed against the decision, and Norgaard's three-game ban was ultimately overturned. It is one of three such overturns this season, though the KMI panel has not specified whether the other two - Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes against Tottenham and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves - go down as missed interventions.
Nottingham Forest thought they had put themselves 4-1 up against Southampton in January, with Nikola Milenkovic heading home an Anthony Elanga free-kick moments after Jan Bednarek had pulled one back for the visitors. Their celebrations were quickly interrupted by VAR, though. On-field ref Anthony Taylor saw nothing wrong with the goal, but was urged to take another look to determine whether striker Chris Wood was offside and interfering with play. Taylor decided Wood - stood between Milenkovic and Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale - was indeed interfering.
The KMI panel has since suggested the decision was an incorrect one. It didn't end up being too costly for Nuno Espirito Santo's side, who still held on for a 3-2 win, though their opponents were a goal-line clearance away from rescuing a point. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.
