Incident-by-incident: Was it a bad weekend for VAR?

The article reviews a weekend of disputed Premier League decisions after several matches featured controversial VAR calls. It contrasts the scrutiny with season-to-date figures showing VAR had made relatively few errors, and considers which incidents may change that record.

After eight rounds, the Key Match Incidents Panel had recorded two VAR errors, compared with six at the same point last season. The article assesses incidents including Manchester United’s late equaliser against Aston Villa, a penalty appeal for Arsenal against Hull, Jayden Bogle’s challenge on Mathys Tel, and several decisions in Everton’s match with Coventry. It suggests the Villa goal was unlikely to be judged a VAR error, while Arsenal’s penalty and Coventry’s hair-pulling appeal may be ruled incorrectly handled; Bogle’s challenge remains disputed.