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

Wolverhampton Wanderers have also benefited from one VAR-led error this term – Yerson Mosquera avoiding a red card in their 1-0 loss to Newcastle United – but, like the others in the three-team relegation battle this season, their standing (rock bottom of the top flight) would not have changed. They’d still be on two points from their duo of draws.
West Ham United, like Wolves, had the solitary VAR error go in their favour, but that has not resulted in their Premier League standings being affected. The aforementioned error refers to Tottenham Hotspur’s goal against the east Londoners being ruled out for a push on Kyle Walker-Peters from Micky van de Ven; a decision that left James Maddison furious.
Burnley and Nottingham Forest, despite the VAR controversies since the start of the 2025/26 campaign, are also among those whose respective Premier League positions have not been impacted by VAR-led errors. Elsewhere, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are hoping to stay afloat come May 2026 – and thanks to VAR errors, the Whites are two points better off. They would’ve dropped to 16th, from 15th, if VAR was on point. Brentford, managed by the inexperienced Keith Andrews, would be in 15th.
Position
Change in Position
Club
Points
20.
N/A
Wolverhampton Wanderers
2
19.
N/A
West Ham United
4
18.
N/A
Burnley
4
17.
N/A
Nottingham Forest
5
16.
-1
Leeds United
6
15.
+1
Brentford
6
Bottom Half

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are currently in a bit of a funk but, as things stand, they’ve had two VAR-inspired errors go their way thus far, though none have gone against the Midlands-based outfit. In the table without VAR errors, there wouldn’t be much of a change in their position – only from 13th to 14th, with no change in their point tally, given they’d been helped somewhat.
Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United have both faced the negative impacts of VAR getting it wrong this term. That said, Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils would trickle down the table – from 10th to 12th – if we were free of VAR errors because of changes around them. Nathan Collins being allowed to continue after a cynical, last-man challenge on United’s Bryan Mbeumo is one of the errors against them.
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.
In terms of teams that are suffering the most from VAR errors, Fulham – managed by the favourable Marco Silva – are the worst off. As things stand, their start to the season sees them in 14th place in the actual Premier League standings, but the removal of VAR would see them jump up to 11th, just four points off a place that would secure them Champions League action for next term.
They are, as a result, two points worse off. The most notable VAR blunder regarding the west Londoners is when Josh King’s goal was disallowed in their 2-0 loss to Chelsea for a wrongly-accused challenge from Rodrigo Muniz on the half-way line.
Position
Change in Position
Club
Points
14.
-1
Aston Villa
9
13.
-1
Brighton & Hove Albion
9
12.
-2
Manchester United
10
11.
+3
Fulham
10
Top Half

Regis Le Bris-led Sunderland, in their first season back in England’s top flight, have enjoyed a steady start. Without VAR making the errors it has, the Black Cats would’ve dropped down one place in the table, though they would be on the same points tally of 11. The reason for their change in position was because they’d be overtaken by their rivals.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United, too, have been negatively affected – by the tune of two places – by VAR-led errors in 2025/26. They would’ve earned two extra points as Nick Woltemade was denied a penalty in their goalless draw with Bournemouth on September 21.
Chelsea and Enzo Maresca are among the teams looking to crack the top four come May 2026; and the Blues will be pleased at the thought of VAR given they are one place better off on the back of technology errors this season. Maresca’s men are the only side in the top division to have three ‘errors’ go in their favour since the start of the campaign.
Without the errors from VAR this season, David Moyes’ Everton – who have impressed in the infant stages of 2025/26 – would be one place higher than their current position: 8th.

The Toffees would only be one point better off as James Tarkowski conceded a late penalty in his side’s 1-0 loss to Leeds United. As a result, they are two points worse off as the VAR error meant they went from a drawing position to walking away from Elland Road empty-handed.
Bournemouth have dealt with their abundance of key departures in the summer with grace and poise as they mount a serious charge to secure top four credentials. VAR errors, however, have been on their side as they’d be sixth without them; Woltemade’s aforementioned penalty shout for Newcastle factors into that. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who would be two places worse off without VAR errors this term.
Position
Change in Position
Club
Points
10.
-1
Sunderland
11
9.
+2
Newcastle United
11
8.
-1
Chelsea
12
7.
+1
Everton
12
6.
-2
Bournemouth
13
5.
N/A
Manchester City
13
Top Four

As of 9 October, it has been reported that Crystal Palace, whose 19-match unbeaten run recently came to an end, have had two VAR errors go against them. Without the technology, Oliver Glasner’s high-flying men would be two points better off, leapfrogging Manchester City into third place behind Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have finished three seasons on the trot just behind the table toppers, and they’ll be looking to buck that trend this time around as the pressure mounts on them to secure silverware. Will it happen? That remains to be seen, but they’ve been helped massively by VAR since their first game of the campaign – a 1-0 win over Manchester United, courtesy of a Riccardo Calafoiri header.
In fact, there is no other team in the league that has benefitted from the use of VAR more than the Gunners: in the Premier League table without ‘VAR errors’, they’d be two places worse off, from second to eighth, than what they currently are. In their season curtain-raiser (the aforementioned victory over Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils), William Saliba could’ve counted himself lucky to not give a penalty away on Matheus Cunha.
If VAR was not in place, both Tottenham Hotspur – who are now managed by Thomas Frank after sacking Ange Postecoglou – and Arne Slot’s Liverpool would be bumped up one position apiece, with the Reds taking the top spot. The team from Merseyside have had a VAR error go against them and in their favour since the campaign got underway.
Spurs, who are third in the actual Premier League table, would be one place closer to the top if in a VAR-less world. Cristian Romero’s opener against West Ham was chalked off, while James Trafford could’ve counted himself lucky not to be sent off against City. Both games were, however, won by the north Londoners.
Position
Change in Position
Club
Points
4.
+2
Crystal Palace
14
3.
-2
Arsenal
14
2.
+1
Tottenham Hotspur
14
1.
+1
Liverpool
15
LIVERPOOL10 months ago