The Biggest VAR Controversies and Technology’s Path Forward

The English Premier League has incorporated Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to enhance refereeing accuracy, but controversy continues to surround it, inducing arguments among fans, players, and pundits. VAR has created a paradox in reality. In theory, it delivers higher accuracy. FIFA states that 99.3% of "clear and obvious" errors have been corrected using VAR, and the Premier League can boast an improvement in decision accuracy from 82% to 96% since its introduction. The 2024-25 season saw the Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel log only 18 VAR errors, a considerable drop from 31 in the previous season, indicating improved accuracy in decision-making. However, high-profile blunders still take centre stage, making individuals question VAR consistency and whether technology has any answers to these issues.

Aston Villa experienced high-profile VAR controversies throughout the 2024-25 Premier League season, with six decisions against them, including penalty denials and disallowed goals, as analysed by ESPN (May 25, 2025). Notable incidents include the disallowing of the goal by Bruno Guimaraes for handball versus Newcastle (Dec. 26, 2024) and a missed penalty for a foul committed on Morgan Rogers (Squawka, May 26, 2025). Moreover, a high-profile VAR error occurred in 2023 in the game between Tottenham and Liverpool (Sep. 30, 2023), where Luis Díaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed due to a VAR communication error, prompting a PGMOL apology (BBC, Sep. 30, 2023). Similarly, Manchester United's penalty against Fulham (August 24, 2025), awarded for Calvin Bassey's foul, caused a stir, with fans questioning the consistency of VAR (Sky Sports, August 24, 2025).

VAR has increased Premier League decision accuracy to 96%, with only 18 errors in 2024-25 season however, high-profile mistakes, such as those affecting Aston Villa and Liverpool, continue to fuel ongoing controversies. Lack of consistency in handball and penalty decisions frustrates fans and pundits alike. To restore trust, VAR must improve consistency, facilitate improved communication, and leverage the latest technology, all while ensuring fairness without interfering with the flow and passion of the game.