Remember a world when VAR (Video Assistant Referee) wasn’t available for referees in the Premier League? The game flowed and there was far less controversy surrounding the standard of officiating in England’s top flight – but that is no longer the case after the technology was unanimously voted for and, therefore, introduced in the 2019/20 season following a successful test in the campaign prior.

 

VAR was implemented as a means of giving referees an edge when identifying, and possibly correcting, “clear and obvious errors” in four key areas: goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identity.

 

A dedicated VAR figure has, since, monitored every single game in the Premier League – and, despite the constant murmurs over its effectiveness in England, there is little chance that league chiefs will be getting rid of it any time soon. So, as we settle into the 2025/26 campaign, which teams have benefitted the most from VAR errors? And which teams, in comparison, have suffered the most?

 

Using data from Squawka, who had their X (formerly Twitter) followers vote in polls, there have been a handful of Premier League clubs that were on the receiving end of what supporters felt were bad calls since the current season started. Let’s take a closer look at the winners and losers of errors which have been committed with the use of VAR, from 2025/26.

 

It’s important to note that their table has been compiled on the basis that penalties, should they have been awarded, would have been converted.

 

Relegation Zone

West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo

Wolverhampton Wanderers have benefited from one VAR-led error this term – Yerson Mosquera avoiding a red card in their 1-0 loss to Newcastle United – but their standing (rock bottom of the top flight) would not have changed. They’d still be on two points from their duo of draws.

 

However, in 19th place we have Leeds United, who drop down three places and lose two points. The error in favour of Daniel Farke’s side is keeping them out of the real drop zone, with teams above them consequently benefitting.

 

Nottingham Forest got an important result against Leeds before the end of the international break to end their dismal run of form — it was their first league victory since beating Brentford way back in August. But despite them rising up one spot, they still find themselves in the relegation places.

 

In fairness to the Tricky Trees, they are one of two sides who have had no VAR errors go for or against them. The other team in that position, Burnley, are just fractionally ahead of Forest, with West Ham United separating the two clubs. Two consecutive wins have seen the Hammers pick up important points, and if Leeds didn’t have some good fortune on their side, then they wouldn’t be in the relegation places at all.

 

Although Fulham still find themselves in 15th place in this table, the Cottagers should seemingly have two additional points to their name after 11 games. Marco Silva’s team have had one error in their favour, but an incredible three mistakes go against them, including the decision to disallow Josh King’s goal in their 2-0 loss to Chelsea for a wrongly-accused challenge from Rodrigo Muniz on the half-way line.

 

 

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Position

 

Change in Position

 

Club

 

Points

 

20.

 

N/A

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers

 

2

 

19.

 

-3

 

Leeds United

 

9

 

18.

 

+1

 

Nottingham Forest

 

9

 

17.

 

+1

 

West Ham United

 

10

 

16.

 

+1

 

Burnley

 

10

 

15.

 

0

 

Fulham

 

13

 

Bottom Half

everton jack grealish

Without the errors from VAR this season, Newcastle United would still find themselves where they are presently — 14th. Eddie Howe’s side haven’t managed to put a consistent run of form together lately and have now lost two consecutive games. To make matters worse, they’ve had three VAR errors go against them so far, most notably when Nick Woltemade was denied a penalty in their goalless draw against Bournemouth, which cost them two points.

 

David Moyes’ Everton sit just above the Magpies in 13th in both the real table and the no-VAR one. They also have not had the rub of the green when it comes to video officiating, with two decisions going against them so far which officials got wrong in the eyes of fans.

 

Brentford are in 12th here, and while there’s no change in league position, the Bees do have one less point thanks to VAR. And completing the bottom half is Brighton & Hove Albion, who have had an error go for and against them so far this season — although neither have impacted their league position.

 

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Fabian Hurzeler, who was apointed by Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 31, became the the youngest-ever permanent manager in the history of the Premier League.

 

Position

 

Change in Position

 

Club

 

Points

 

14.

 

N/A

 

Newcastle United

 

14

 

13.

 

N/A

 

Everton

 

15

 

12.

 

N/A

 

Brentford

 

15

 

11.

 

N/A

 

Brighton & Hove Albion

 

16

 

Top Half

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah before the match vs Manchester United

There’s a lot of change from 10th to fifth, and most of that is down to one team in particular. Bournemouth drop one spot and one point without VAR, thanks to the aforementioned decision on Woltemade’s penalty call.

 

While Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have seemingly overcome their early-season funk, three mistakes going in their favour, according to fans, have done them a world of good. There’s no actual change in their points tally, but the decisions have impacted their goal difference. Without that fortune, Villa drop three places, behind a host of teams who are all on 18 points.

 

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are in a real rut presently. It seemed as though they had turned a corner after a win against Villa, but after their defeat against Manchester City, they’ve lost four of their last five matches in the league. That being said, while there is no change to their position or points tally, the Reds have had four VAR errors go against them, more than any other team according to fans. The most egregious arguably came against City, when Virgil van Dijk saw an equaliser chalked off for offside.

 

Manchester United’s new-found form under Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, has seen them shoot up to seventh in recent weeks. Impressively, they’ve also managed that despite three alleged errors going against them, including the decision not to award Amad Diallo a penalty against Brighton.

 

Although they find themselves in fifth place currently, Tottenham Hotspur would be a position worse off if VAR was not in place, even though two errors have gone against them compared to just one for them. The reason for that is because of Crystal Palace’s surge here. While the Eagles have had the same fortune from VAR as Spurs, the decision to rule Eberechi Eze’s goal out against Chelsea all the way back in gameweek one cost them a precious two points. A win at Stamford Bridge would have resulted in them being fifth currently instead of 10th.

 

Position

 

Change in Position

 

Club

 

Points

 

10.

 

-1

 

Bournemouth

 

17

 

9.

 

-3

 

Aston Villa

 

18

 

8.

 

N/A

 

Liverpool

 

18

 

7.

 

N/A

 

Manchester United

 

18

 

6.

 

-1

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

18

 

5.

 

+5

 

Crystal Palace

 

19

 

Top Four

arsenal bukayo saka

Regis Le Bris-led Sunderland, in their first season back in England’s top flight, have enjoyed a fantastic start. Even without the sole VAR error against them, the Black Cats would still be fourth in the table — although they would have two extra points had the decision to award them a penalty against Everton been given.

 

Chelsea have had plenty of good fortune so far in 2025/26 — Eze’s disallowed goal when they faced Palace is just one of three calls that have benefitted them. But without VAR, Enzo Maresca’s side would have an extra point to their name. Manchester City would still lead the Blues, though, with no change to points or position for Pep Guardiola’s side.

 

But it’s Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal who remain top of the league, albeit on two fewer points than they have in reality. William Saliba could’ve counted himself lucky to not give a penalty away on Matheus Cunha during the Gunners’ season opener, a 1-0 win against Manchester United. Had the north London side dropped points in that game, then they wouldn’t have as much breathing space at the summit as they do right now.

 

Position

 

Change in Position

 

Club

 

Points

 

4.

 

N/A

 

Sunderland

 

21

 

3.

 

N/A

 

Chelsea

 

21

 

2.

 

N/A

 

Manchester City

 

22

 

1.

 

N/A

 

Arsenal

 

24