While statistics previously suggested that video assistant referee decisions had maintained a high standard, this past weekend saw a wave of contentious calls across almost every top-flight fixture.
Man Utd grab a point in dramatic fashion late on against Aston Villa.
The Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, which systematically reviews disputed moments, faces a busy week assessing whether these interventions represent a shift in trend. And more of a 50-50 clash, what the KMI Panel might say: This incident is not quite the same as Saliba on Pedro.
Sport looks at most of these situations – there really were too many to do them all – and assesses the likelihood that the KMI Panel will add to the list of errors.
Verdict: Sport covered this incident in detail on Saturday.
Because it has split opinion among ex-pros, this will depend upon which former players are on the KMI Panel for this week.
Frank Lampard post-match interview – Everton v Coventry.
Yet there does appear to be a deviation and the goal probably should have been ruled out, verdict: The VAR determined there was no conclusive evidence for a handball.
Last season, the panel identified only six major mistakes at this stage, but the volume of activity this weekend suggests a significant departure from that pattern. Only on holding offences is continuing contact relevant.
Manchester United 1-1 Aston Villa
- Incident 1: A penalty was awarded to Manchester United in the 16th minute following a foul by Boubacar Kamara on Matheus Cunha.
- Verdict: The spot-kick decision appears justified as the Villa defender moved through Cunha to reach the ball, with replays indicating the primary contact was on the Brazilian’s foot.
- KMI Panel Outlook: This will likely be recorded as a correct decision.
- Incident 2: Questions arose regarding a potential foul by Senne Lammens on goalkeeper Zion Suzuki just before Patrick Dorgu’s 96th-minute equaliser.
- Verdict: Given Lammens was not tracking the ball, the situation mirrors previous controversial goals, such as William Saliba’s challenge on Altay Bayındır last season.
- KMI Panel Outlook: Due to the higher threshold for VAR intervention in the Premier League and minimal contact, it is unlikely to be ruled an error not to disallow the goal.
Arsenal v Hull City
- Incident: Kai Havertz was pulled down in the box by Nobel Mendy, leading to a penalty awarded by the referee after a VAR check.
- Verdict: The foul occurred before any potential offside, meaning the penalty should have been given.
- KMI Panel Outlook: Despite the unconventional nature of awarding a penalty to a player who may have been in an offside position, the laws of the game dictate this is a penalty, making the initial omission a likely mistake.
Leeds United 1-0 Tottenham
- Incident: Jayden Bogle challenged Mathys Tel, resulting in a free-kick but no further disciplinary action, despite VAR Tony Harrington declining to send referee John Brooks to the monitor.
- Verdict: The incident posed a difficult decision regarding whether the tackle endangered the opponent.
- KMI Panel Outlook: The panel will assess whether this was an unfortunate collision or a red-card offense.
Everton v Coventry City
- Incident 1: James Tarkowski appeared to pull Caleb Yirenkyi’s hair inside the area, but no penalty was granted.
- Verdict: While hair-pulling interpretations have been relaxed this season, a yank was visible.
- KMI Panel Outlook: This is likely to be deemed an incorrect decision warranting a penalty.
- Incident 2: Vitalii Mykolenko clipped Taiwo Awoniyi near the box edge.
- Verdict: Replays confirm the contact occurred just outside the line.
- KMI Panel Outlook: The correct decision was made; no penalty.
- Incident 3: Thierno Barry scored in the 61st minute, but the goal faced a VAR check for potential handball.
- Verdict: While inconclusive evidence existed for a clear handball, some footage suggests contact.
- KMI Panel Outlook: Without super-zoom capabilities, the VAR is unlikely to overturn the on-field decision.
Brentford v Crystal Palace
- Incident: Igor Thiago was shown a red card for violent conduct following a review for a head-to-head incident with Chema Andres.
- Verdict: The Brentford striker was arguably unfortunate as intent was difficult to prove.
- KMI Panel Outlook: Though described as a soft dismissal, the intervention is likely to be supported. Dion Dublin remarked, “Yellow card for me” regarding the clash.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Liverpool
- Incident: Crystal Palace received a penalty in stoppage time for a foul by Milos Kerkez.
- Verdict: The incident is comparable to an occurrence in the 2024-25 season involving William Saliba and Joao Pedro.
- KMI Panel Outlook: Unlike the Saliba incident, this appears to be a 50-50 clash rather than a clear foul.
- As there is doubt that he truly intended to catch the Spaniard in the face, verdict: The Brentford striker can consider himself unfortunate.
- Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea.
- And asked for a penalty. Referee Jarred Gillett did not give a foul, incident: Cole Palmer went down on the edge of the area under a challenge from both Luke O’Nien and Jules Ahoka.
- Fulham 1-1 Newcastle.
- Only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Yoane Wissa on Timothy Castagne, incident: Newcastle thought they had taken the lead at Craven Cottage.
- Yet he would surely be furious if a Fulham player held one of his defenders back to create on onside corridor for another attacker to score, verdict: Matthias Jaissle was perplexed in his post-match interview.
- Which is not a good weekend, so we are potentially looking at two to four errors.
