VAR is facing criticism after a panel confirmed errors in recent Premier League matches, wrongly disallowing a Fulham goal and failing to award Wolves a penalty. The decisions have sparked debate about VAR’s consistency and accuracy.
The Premier League's Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is once again under intense scrutiny following revelations that Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers were both wronged by incorrect decisions during recent matches. A panel of key match incidents has confirmed that errors were made in both the Cottagers' defeat at Chelsea and Wolves' loss to Everton, reigniting the debate over the consistency and accuracy of VAR interventions.
The controversy surrounding Fulham's disallowed goal at Stamford Bridge has been particularly prominent. Josh King found the net in the 22nd minute, but the goal was chalked off after a lengthy VAR review deemed Rodrigo Muniz to have committed a foul on Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up. The panel has now unequivocally stated that VAR Michael Salisbury was wrong to intervene, and referee Rob Jones was subsequently incorrect to disallow the goal. The panel unanimously agreed that the original on-field decision to allow play to continue should have stood.
The incident centered around Muniz appearing to tread on Chalobah's foot as he turned near the halfway line. While contact was made, the panel concluded that it did not warrant the intervention of VAR, as it was not deemed a clear and obvious error by the on-field referee. This decision has sparked outrage among Fulham fans and raised questions about the threshold for VAR intervention.
Adding to the frustration, Wolves were also denied a clear penalty in their narrow 3-2 defeat against Everton. Iliman Ndiaye fouled Hugo Bueno, but the incident went unnoticed by the on-field officials and VAR Craig Pawson chose not to intervene. The panel found that three out of five members believed Pawson’s decision was a mistake, stating that the contact was careless and a penalty should have been awarded. They further asserted that VAR should have intervened, as it represented a clear and obvious error.
These latest incidents are not isolated cases. The panel revealed that a total of 18 VAR errors were made last season, with the majority stemming from missed interventions rather than incorrect disallowances. This highlights a concerning trend of VAR failing to correct clear errors made by on-field officials, leading to potentially game-changing decisions going unaddressed.
PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) chief refereeing officer Howard Webb acknowledged the error in disallowing King’s goal, describing it as a “misjudgement.” However, this admission does little to console Fulham manager Marco Silva, who expressed his disbelief after the match. “How you disallow a goal like that is unbelievable,” he stated. “VAR is not here to re-referee the game.”
The fallout from the Fulham incident led to Michael Salisbury being stood down as VAR for Liverpool's subsequent match against Arsenal, demonstrating the seriousness with which PGMOL is treating these errors. However, critics argue that more significant action is needed to address the systemic issues plaguing the VAR system.
Wolves, currently bottom of the Premier League table without a point, will undoubtedly feel particularly aggrieved by the missed penalty call. A successful penalty could have dramatically altered the outcome of their match against Everton and potentially kickstarted their season.
Chelsea, who ultimately secured a 2-0 victory over Fulham thanks to goals from Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez (both scored after the controversial disallowed goal), will likely face less scrutiny. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the impact VAR can have on the integrity of the game.
The independent panel responsible for reviewing these incidents is comprised of three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative, and one member from the PGMOL board. Their findings are intended to provide transparency and accountability within the refereeing system. However, the continued occurrence of errors raises questions about the effectiveness of the current review process and the training provided to VAR officials.
The Premier League faces mounting pressure to address the ongoing VAR controversies. Fans, managers, and players alike are demanding greater consistency, accuracy, and transparency from the system. The future of VAR in the Premier League may depend on the league's ability to implement meaningful changes and restore confidence in its decision-making process.
