Everton included in 13 VAR mistakes but Premier League won't name nine missed interventions

Everton included in 13 VAR mistakes but Premier League won't name nine missed interventions

Premier League bosses have admitted to 13 VAR mistakes in the competition so far this season but the nine missed interventions have not been disclosed

Everton at Goodison Park fans holding up Premier League protest cards reading 'you don't know what you're doing' (Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images )

Premier League bosses say there have been 13 VAR mistakes in the competition this season – including a major flashpoint in an Everton game in November – as debate rages on over the decision not to award the Blues a penalty in their 4-0 romp against Leicester City. Beto, Everton’s two-goal hero against the Foxes, was adamant he had been fouled in the area by Jannik Vestergaard, but despite vehement protests from both the striker and his Blues team-mates, neither referee Darren Bond nor Stuart Attwell, who was on VAR duties over at Stockley Park, saw fit to point to the spot.

The decision sparked fierce debate on Sky Sports' Ref Watch programme with former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher supporting his colleagues’ decision but Sue Smith and Stephen Warnock believing it was a foul with the former Liverpool player insisting it was “100%” a penalty. Given that Everton won comfortably on the day, the decision can be conveniently brushed under the carpet.

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Officially though, it has not been included in the 13 VAR mistakes that the Premier League have owned up to, a reduction from their figure of 20 at the same point last season. Four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions from the first 23 rounds of games have been found by the competition’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel.

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There have been 70 VAR interventions in 239 league games this season, around one every three matches. The league says the accuracy of ‘Key Match Incidents’ is at 96.4%, up from 95.7% at the corresponding point last term.

Chief football officer Tony Scholes said: “Nobody here underestimates the significance and the impact of one single error. We know that one single error can cost clubs. Points and results can cost managers positions, potentially players their place.”

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The four VAR errors have been revealed but the nine interventions missed by officials have not been disclosed. The four VAR errors have been described as follows by BBC Sport...

Outtara 'handball' - Bournemouth 1 Newcastle United 1, August 25 What: Dango Outtara thought he had scored a late winner for Bournemouth when he jumped to head the ball. The goal was given by on-field referee David Coote. Decision: VAR Tim Robinson advised Coote to reverse his decision, deeming it to be handball. As he deemed it a factual decision rather than subjective, he did not send Coote to the monitor to review it. Outcome: With no conclusive evidence as to whether the ball was low enough on Ouattara's arm to deem it a handball, PGMOL chief Howard Webb - speaking on Sky Sports' Match Officials Mic'd Up - said VAR was incorrect to intervene.

De Ligt foul on Ings - West Ham United 2 Manchester United 1, October 27 What: West Ham striker Danny Ings went down inside the penalty area while challenging for the ball with Manchester United defender Mathijs de Ligt. Referee David Coote waved play on but was advised by VAR Michael Oliver to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Decision: Coote awarded a penalty, which Jarrod Bowen scored to give West Ham victory. Outcome: Under-pressure Man Utd manager Ten Hag was sacked the next day. Webb later said the Hammers should not have been awarded a penalty.

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Norgaard red card – Everton 0 Brentford 0, November 23

Jordan Pickford of Everton is fouled by Christian Norgaard of Brentford leading to a red card decision on November 23, 2024, which has now been overturned (Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images )

What: Brentford's Christian Norgaard caught Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on the knee while challenging for the ball in the penalty area. Decision: Referee Chris Kavanagh did not take action but was advised by Matthew Donohue on the VAR to review the incident. He subsequently showed Norgaard a straight red card. Outcome: Norgaard's three-match suspension for serious foul play was overturned by an independent panel on appeal.

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Milenkovic goal disallowed - Nottingham Forest 3 Southampton 2, January 19 What: Nikola Milenkovic scored a header to put Nottingham Forest 4-1 up. Decision: The VAR advised referee Anthony Taylor to disallow the goal as Forest striker Chris Wood came from an offside position and impeded the Southampton defenders to challenge for the ball. Wood did not touch the ball. Result: An independent panel found the goal should have been given.

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