How Much Every Premier League Club Was Helped By VAR and Referee Errors in 2025/26
The 2025-26 Premier League season is now behind us, with all 20 clubs learning their fate. Arsenal were crowned champions, while we say goodbye to West Ham, Burnley and Wolves.
But could things have looked very different for some teams without errors made by VAR and referees? Well, in short, yes. Arsenal secured the Premier League title while being one of the biggest beneficiaries of mistakes made in the VAR room and on the pitch.
Meanwhile, their main rivals, Manchester City, were on the receiving end of more errors than almost every other Premier League club throughout the season. BBC Sport have presented data from the Premier League’s key match incidents (KMI) panel, which shows the number of officiating errors for and against each club.
VAR Errors in the Premier League (2025-26)
When it comes to the mistakes made by VAR officials, Chelsea and Arsenal were the biggest winners. The latter had four go in their favour, while Mikel Arteta’s side took advantage of three oversights. Neither side had an error go against them, either.
The same can’t be said for Manchester United and Liverpool. The two English giants secured Champions League football but weren’t helped along the way by the technology or those operating it. They both ended up with more decisions against than for them.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace, Everton and Brighton were the hardest hit by VAR blunders. The Eagles suffered three wrong decisions without getting any in their favour.
Premier League Clubs Ranked By VAR Errors (2025/26)
Rank
Club
Errors For
Errors Against
Net
1.
Chelsea
4
0
4
2.
Arsenal
3
0
3
3.
Bournemouth
4
2
2
4.
Newcastle
2
0
2
5.
Tottenham
1
0
1
6.
Wolves
2
1
1
7.
Aston Villa
0
0
0
8.
Brentford
2
2
0
9.
Manchester City
1
1
0
10.
Nottingham Forest
1
1
0
11.
West Ham
2
2
0
12.
Burnley
0
1
-1
13.
Fulham
0
1
-1
14.
Leeds United
0
1
-1
15.
Liverpool
0
1
-1
16.
Manchester United
1
2
-1
17.
Sunderland
1
2
-1
18.
Brighton
0
2
-2
19.
Everton
1
3
-2
20.
Crystal Palace
0
Referee Mistakes Often Went in Big Club’s Favour
The KMI panel also took a look at the calls VAR didn’t get involved in. For example, wrongly awarded penalties that weren’t deemed ‘clear and obvious’ enough to overturn or second yellow card offences that went unpunished.
Arsenal were again helped by these decisions. Max Dowman was wrongly given a penalty kick against Leeds United, while Mikel Merino escaped a second yellow against Aston Villa.
