The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has confirmed three additional video assistant referee (VAR) errors, raising the total number of officiating mistakes this season to 23.
The latest figure represents a 35 per cent increase compared to the same stage last season, when 17 errors had been recorded.
Despite the rise, the total remains below the 30 mistakes registered at this point during the 2023–24 campaign.
According to the panel’s findings released on Friday, three of the newly identified errors involved penalty incidents, including two cases where holding offences were not properly punished.
One of the most controversial decisions occurred during Everton FC’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Manchester City FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton were denied a penalty after Bernardo Silva was judged to have held midfielder Merlin Rohl during a corner-kick situation.
Referee Michael Oliver did not award a penalty during the match, while VAR official Paul Howard ruled that the holding incident happened before the corner was taken and therefore fell outside VAR review rules.
Everton manager David Moyes criticised the decision after the match.
“If that doesn’t get given as a penalty, then it’s an absolute free-for-all from now on,” Moyes said.
However, the KMI panel unanimously rejected the VAR interpretation.
“There is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play,” the panel stated.
The incident proved significant as Manchester City later equalised deep into stoppage time through Jérémy Doku to secure a 3-3 draw.
The panel also revealed that Everton have now been denied penalties through VAR decisions on three occasions this season, following earlier incidents against Arsenal FC and West Ham United FC.
In another reviewed case, the panel ruled that a penalty awarded to AFC Bournemouth during their 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace FC should have been overturned.
Defender Marcos Senesi went down inside the penalty area after slight contact from Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Referee Rob Jones awarded the penalty, while VAR official Peter Bankes upheld the on-field decision.
The KMI panel unanimously concluded that the original decision was incorrect.
“Henderson drops the ball, reaches for it and Senesi goes down under very minimal contact from the goalkeeper,” the panel said.
“The referee’s call of a penalty was incorrect and VAR should have intervened to recommend a review.”
The latest findings are expected to intensify debates surrounding VAR consistency, officiating standards, and decision-making in the Premier League this season.
