The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has confirmed three additional video assistant referee (VAR) errors, bringing the total number of mistakes this season to 23.
The latest findings show a 35 percent increase compared to the same stage last season, when 17 errors were recorded. However, the figure remains below the 30 errors identified at this point in the 2023 to 24 campaign.
The panel stated that three of the newly identified mistakes involved penalty decisions, with two cases linked to holding offences that were not correctly penalised during matches.
One of the most controversial incidents occurred during Everton’s dramatic 3 to 3 draw with Manchester City at Hill inson Stadium.
Everton were denied a penalty after Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva was found to have held midfielder Merlin Röhl during a corner situation. Referee Michael Oliver did not spot the incident, while VAR official Paul Howard ruled that the contact happened before the corner was taken and therefore could not be reviewed.
Everton manager David Moyes criticised the decision strongly after the match, saying it would set a dangerous precedent for future games.
The KMI panel, however, unanimously disagreed with the VAR interpretation, stating that there was clear and sustained holding that continued as the corner was taken and the ball came into play.
The decision proved costly for Everton, as Manchester City equalised deep into stoppage time through Jérémy Doku to secure a 3 to 3 draw.
The panel also highlighted that this was the third time Everton have been denied a penalty through VAR intervention this season, following similar incidents against Arsenal and West Ham United.
In another case reviewed by the panel, a penalty awarded to Bournemouth in their 3 to 0 win over Crystal Palace was deemed incorrect.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was judged to have made minimal contact with Marcos Senesi, with referee Rob Jones awarding the penalty and VAR Peter Bankes supporting the decision.
The KMI panel concluded that the penalty should not have been awarded, stating that the contact was insufficient to justify the spot kick and that VAR should have recommended an on field review.
The latest report has intensified ongoing debate over the consistency and accuracy of VAR decisions in the Premier League this season.
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