The 2025-26 Premier League season saw a mix of VAR errors and on-field decisions that impacted the outcome of matches. Arsenal, surprisingly, emerged as the team with the fewest red cards and penalties, despite being the first team to go the entire season without receiving a red card or conceding a penalty. However, data from the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel reveals that Arsenal should have conceded three penalties and received three red cards. This means Arsenal had seven referee mistakes in their favor, while Chelsea gained from eight. The Blues received two of the three incorrect VAR interventions, leading to a disallowed goal for Fulham and a penalty against Crystal Palace. The KMI panel identified 25 VAR errors this season, an increase from the 18 in the 2024-25 campaign, but still a marked improvement on previous years. Bournemouth and Chelsea gained the most from these errors, with four each. Arsenal gained from three errors, including spot-kicks which should have been awarded to Everton and Brighton. Palace and Everton suffered the most with three mistakes each. The overall winners and losers, considering both VAR and on-field errors, saw Chelsea and Arsenal on top with a score of +5, followed by Wolves on +4. Leeds, on the other hand, had an overall score of -4, the lowest among all teams. The KMI panel, which meets weekly to review decisions, includes former players, coaches, and representatives from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). They assess the decisions of both on-field referees and VAR, considering the laws of the game and the Premier League's expectations for refereeing. Despite the errors, the PGMO is satisfied with the season-on-season improvements, particularly in serious foul play and delays. The VAR system continues to evolve, with a focus on reducing errors and improving the overall experience of the game.
