The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel has confirmed three more video assistant referee errors, bringing the total this season to 23. This represents a 35% increase on last season, which saw 17 errors at the same stage. However, it is lower than the 30 errors logged in 2023-24.
Everton’s Penalty Woes
Everton, notably, are the only team not to have a VAR intervention in their favour this season. David Moyes’ side has been wrongly denied a spot-kick against Manchester City. The incident occurred when the Toffees led 3-2 at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
During a corner, Bernardo Silva held back Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl, an action unseen by referee Michael Oliver. VAR Paul Howard decided the holding had taken place before the corner was taken, preventing him from awarding a penalty. David Moyes commented after the game, “If that doesn’t get given as a penalty, then it’s an absolute free-for-all from now on.”
The KMI panel unanimously agreed with Moyes, stating there was “a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play”. City later equalised deep into stoppage time through Jeremy Doku, resulting in a 3-3 draw.
It marks the third time this season Everton should have been awarded a penalty through video review. The other instances occurred in a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal and a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
Bournemouth Penalty Overturned
The panel also voted 5-0 that a penalty awarded to Bournemouth in the 29th minute of their 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace should have been overturned. Marcos Senesi went to ground claiming contact from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, leading referee Rob Jones to point to the spot. VAR Peter Bankes decided to uphold the decision.
According to the panel, “Henderson drops the ball, reaches for it and Senesi goes down under very minimal contact from the goalkeeper.” They added, “The referee’s call of a penalty was incorrect and that VAR should have intervened to recommend a review.”
West Ham Denied Spot-Kicks
West Ham should have been given two spot-kicks in their 3-0 loss at Brentford. However, one of the decisions was not considered to have reached the VAR threshold. Keane Lewis-Potter held Tomas Soucek “in a clear non-footballing action which impacted the West Ham player’s movement”.
The panel unanimously felt VAR Tony Harrington should have intervened. It was also felt referee Craig Pawson should have awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when Yehor Yarmolyuk slipped and brought down Pablo inside the area.
That decision resulted in a split 3-2 vote for a spot-kick, but 4-1 against a VAR review.
In other judgements, the panel voted 4-1 that the VAR was correct not to intervene on the potential handball by Benjamin Sesko before the Manchester United striker scored.