Refereeing mistakes in the Premier League have risen this season, with the Key Match Incidents panel recording 54 errors so far — up from 44 at the same stage last year.
VAR has already matched last season’s total of 18 errors, while missed interventions (15), on‑field mistakes (25), and incorrect second yellow cards (11) have all increased.
Recent matches saw three penalties wrongly denied — Arsenal v Everton, Chelsea v Newcastle, and Brentford v Wolves — plus a mistaken dismissal for Leeds’ Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Officials say there are positives: fewer VAR stoppages, quicker reviews, and on‑field accuracy holding steady at 86%. But the rise in errors ensures VAR remains under fierce scrutiny.
