VAR and controversy go hand in hand in the Premier League. Jordan Pickford's tackle on Virgil van Dijk? Harry Maguire's WWE move on Cesar Azpilicueta? Eric Dier's handball against Newcastle United?
Barely a matchday seems to go by without some kind of furore -- but just how bad are these decisions? Is the VAR really making a catastrophic error? Or are these decisions actually correct?
Throughout the 2020-21 Premier League season we are collecting the biggest VAR incidents and rating each one for controversy -- and VAR.
- How VAR decisions have affected every club
- How VAR has changed for 2020-21
- VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
Man United denied penalty at Chelsea
Chelsea v Man United (Feb. 28)
What happened? Marcus Rashford's powerfully hit free-kick was parried out by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Mason Greenwood moved to pick up the rebound and was challenged by Callum Hudson-Odoi, who appeared to nudge the ball with his hand before the United player could get to the ball.
What about the review? Play continued while the VAR, Chris Kavanagh, reviewed the incident. His verdict was that Hudson-Odoi used his hand to move the ball away from Greenwood. However, when Stuart Attwell, the match referee, went to the pitchside monitor he felt Hudson-Odoi didn't move his arm towards the ball so no spot kick was awarded.
Controversy rating 9/10: While the perception this season has been that any handball is a penalty, there have in fact only been 10 awarded for the offence via VAR in the Premier League -- and many of those came in the controversial first few weeks of the campaign before the interpretation was tweaked. It would certainly have been a penalty in September, but the subjective opinion of the referee now has greater importance. However, most people would expect Attwell to give the spot kick once advised to in these circumstances.
Attwell was also the VAR who controversially failed to advise a penalty should be given to Chelsea at Manchester United in October, which is also covered in this article.
VAR rating 9/10: This seems a high mark? If you think about it, the VAR process was followed as it should. Play continued while the handball was reviewed, the VAR advised a penalty and the referee, in his own subjective opinion, decided not to give it. So it's both very controversial, and good VAR process.
Man City score controversial 'offside' goal
Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa (Jan. 20)
What happened? Man City and Villa were locked at 0-0 with 79 minutes gone. Rodri was in a clear offside position when Bernardo Silva headed the ball forward, but when Villa defender Tyrone Mings chested the ball down it was taken off him by Rodri, who returned the ball to Silva to score. The linesman did not flag for offside and the goal was allowed. Furious Villa manager Dean Smith was sent off by referee Jon Moss for his protests.
What about the review? The VAR, Andy Madley, checked for a possible offside offence by Rodri. The offside law states the phase of play is reset when a defender "deliberately plays the ball." In this instance, Mings chesting the ball was classed as a "deliberate act." Rodri was two yards away from Mings when he controlled the ball, so he wasn't considered to be challenging for the ball.
It was decided that Rodri had not gained an advantage, he had not committed an offside offence and play should be allowed to continue. Rodri legitimately took possession of the ball from Mings, starting the attack which resulted in the goal.
HOWEVER, a week after the incident the Premier League admitted the goal should have been disallowed.
Controversy rating 9/10: An attacker challenging a defender coming from an offside position is almost always given as offside. So VAR not getting involved to disallow this goal was difficult for fans to understand. It's one of the over-arching problems that VAR will have to overcome. Referees are applying the Laws of the Game, but the laws aren't always what supporters, players or managers would want them to be.
The spirit of the game, as it is applied in the course of the game by a referee, seems to be lost in VAR. And that is tough to overcome.
VAR rating 5/10: How do you judge this one? The VAR was applying the law as he had been told it should be applied. But VAR has to be marked down, as the goal should have been disallowed. Such a goal will not be allowed again.
Burnley survive red card due to Shaw foul
Burnley 0-1 Manchester United (Jan. 12)
What happened? Robbie Brady brought down Edinson Cavani on the edge of the area and he was booked by the referee, Kevin Friend. The VAR then initiated a review.
What about the review? The VAR, Stuart Attwell, decided that Brady should have been sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. However, the VAR then checked the Attacking Phase of Play and it was judged that Luke Shaw had fouled Johann Berg Gudmundsson in the build-up. That meant Brady's offence was cancelled out, as play stopped at the Shaw infringement. Shaw was booked for the offence.
Controversy rating 6/10: The decision was correct here, but there were examples of things we had not seen before and that confused matters. A potential red card was ruled out because of a foul in the build-up, while the player who committed that foul (Shaw) could easily have been sent off for serious foul play.
VAR rating 8/10: Process was followed correctly. Denying a goal-scoring opportunity is the only red card offence that VAR can cancel for a foul in the build-up, so Brady was very lucky. The only issue was it took several minutes for Attwell and Friend to unpick what was undoubtedly a complicated situation.
Bamford offside for pointing for a pass
Crystal Palace 4-1 Leeds United (Nov. 7)
What happened? Patrick Bamford had a goal disallowed for offside which would have put Leeds level at 1-1.
What about the review? As we saw with the disallowed Sadio Mane goal for Liverpool against Everton, this was again caused by the change to the handball law which means the upper arm of a player now counts for offside. Because Bamford was pointing to a teammate where he wanted the ball to be played, this extended his body marginally in front of the last defender. Last season this would not have been disallowed for offside.
Controversy rating 9/10: This might be seen as slightly more controversial than the Mane incident, because Bamford was purely trying to point where he wanted the ball to be played. It's not a part of the body supporters generally view as being valid of offside, and as the goal would have brought Leeds back into the game it adds to the criticism.
VAR rating 4/10: This feels worse than Mane, and perhaps as though the VAR was searching for a reason to disallow the goal. There is also more subjectivity points to the offside VAR decision, with the VAR having to select points on the arms of both players. There has to be a margin of error. But with the application of offside as it is, VAR Mike Dean had not option but to rule the goal out.
Referee Scott rejects VAR review
Tottenham 2-1 Brighton (Nov. 1)
What happened? Brighton equalised in the 56th minute through Tariq Lamptey, but Solly March appeared to foul Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in winning possession.
What about the review? The VAR, Jon Moss, reviewed and decided it was a foul by March and within the attacking phase of play; he advised referee Graham Scott to take a look on the pitchside monitor. For the first time in the Premier League, the referee rejected a VAR review and stayed with his original decision. While March might have got a slight touch on the ball, he also went through Hojbjerg and it seemed a certain foul.
Controversy rating 7/10: Tottenham still went on to win the game, so the decision didn't really affect the game. But most people were shocked that Scott chose this incident, of all reviews so far, to stay with an on-field decision. Harry Kane was stunned.
VAR rating 2/10: It is important that, from time to time, a referee does reject a VAR review at the monitor to show the game isn't purely being re-refereed from Stockley Park. But this was a definite foul by March and Scott's decision, when using the monitor for the first time this season, to allow the goal was remarkable.
- Watch the incident on Tottenham's YouTube channel
Xhaka offside vs. Leicester
Arsenal 0-1 Leicester City (Oct. 25)
What happened? Arsenal thought they had the lead in the fourth minute when Alexandre Lacazette headed home, but the linesman raised his flag for offside against Granit Xhaka. He was in an offside position, stood virtually on the goal line, and had swerved out of the path of the ball to allow it to go in.
What about the review? The VAR, Paul Tierney, checked to make sure the offside was correct and decided there was no clear and obvious error, as Xhaka's position had impacted upon Kasper Schmeichel's ability to make the save and Justin's to clear it.
Controversy rating 7/10: This one certainly split opinion among former referees, as Xhaka was not in the line of vision of Schmeichel. But some did feel that Xhaka's position so close to goal, and his moving out of the way of the ball for it to go into the net, could only impact upon opponents who could play the play.
VAR rating 5/10: The "clear and obvious" requirement for an overturn always meant it was unlikely the goal would be reinstated, but as there was clear doubt over how much influence Xhaka had on the outcome perhaps a pitchside review would have removed any controversy. Would the VAR have disallowed it if the linesman had not ruled it out? Probably not.
Sheffield United penalty vs. Liverpool
Liverpool 2-1 Sheffield United (Oct. 24)
What happened? Liverpool's Fabinho attempted to win the ball off Oliver McBurnie on the edge of his own box, but went through the Sheffield United player in doing so. Referee Mike Riley awarded a free kick on the edge of the box.
What about the review? The VAR, Andre Marriner, reviewed the position of the foul, and found that part of McBurnie's foot was on the line of the penalty area. The line belongs to the box, which means it became a penalty review. Even though Fabinho got the ball, he also took McBurnie so this could not be a "clear and obvious error" by the referee so a penalty was awarded. If the VAR had decided the challenge was in the area but wasn't a foul, play would have restarted with a dropped ball to Alisson.
Controversy rating 7/10: This caused an outcry among Liverpool fans, who didn't feel it was a foul by Fabinho and even argued contact wasn't inside the box. As Liverpool went on to win the game, despite the penalty being scored by Sander Berge, the controversy wasn't quite so fierce.
VAR rating 8/10: A tough one to rate because, while the correct decision was reached in law, it is the kind of incident that fans find difficult to stomach. Would Dean have given the decision if he thought it would result in a penalty? We get the impression that, in general, fouls in the box seem to carry a higher threshold for officials than those outside.
Just a week later, an almost identical incident happened when Tottenham's Harry Kane was awarded a penalty for a foul on the area line by Brighton's Adam Lallana.
- Watch the incident on Liverpool's YouTube channel
Maguire vs. Azpilicueta
Man United 0-0 Chelsea (Oct. 24)
What happened? Chelsea played a ball into box in the first half and Harry Maguire and Cesar Azpilicueta battled for the ball, with the Manchester United defender heading clear. However, replays showed that Maguire went over the top of Azpilicueta, with both arms around his shoulders, to get to the ball first. A holding offence is defined as "when a player's contact with an opponent's body or equipment impedes the opponent's movement."
What about the review? This took place in the background while play continued and the VAR, Stuart Attwell, quickly decided there was not enough in the challenge to warrant a penalty to Chelsea.
Controversy rating 9/10: This was a crucial decision which could have handed Chelsea three points at Old Trafford. Attwell was too quick to move on and allow the play to restart when it did eventually stop.
VAR rating 2/10: Referee Martin Atkinson may have been unsighted, but Attwell should have picked up on a "serious missed incident." What made matters worse is that Attwell, acting as referee, had given a very soft penalty for holding by Brighton's Tariq Lamptey on Crystal Palace's Michy Batshuayi just six days earlier.
- Watch the incident on Chelsea's YouTube channel
Pickford foul on Van Dijk
Liverpool 2-2 Everton (Oct. 17)
What happened? Virgil van Dijk was played through on goal, and as he got to the ball, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford came rushing out and clattered into him with a wild challenge. However, the offside flag had already been raised against Van Dijk but Pickford could still have been sent off for serious foul play, defined as a "challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force."
What about the review? VAR official David Coote reviewed for a possible penalty by checking the offside. This showed he had acknowledged there was a possible foul by Pickford. However, once the offside was upheld, Coote did not initiate a review for a possible red card missed by referee Michael Oliver and play restarted with a free kick to Everton.
Controversy rating 10/10: Pickford should have been sent off for the challenge, and as Liverpool were 1-0 up just five minutes into the Merseyside derby they will feel they would have gone on to comfortably win the game. Added to that, Van Dijk was forced off with an ACL injury which may well have ended his season.
VAR rating 3/10: OK, so the VAR got the offside review correct. But Coote's failure to identify a red card -- he also missed a clear red card as the VAR for a Giovani Lo Celso challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta in February -- was a huge error and affected the outcome of the game. Coote was appointed as neither VAR nor referee for the following weekend's games.
Mane offside vs. Everton
What happened? Liverpool thought they had a winner in the 92nd minute through Jordan Henderson, but the VAR disallowed the goal for offside against Sadio Mane, who had created the goal.
What about the review? The change to the handball law now means the shoulder and the top of the arm count for offside, and it was this that made Mane (and Van Dijk in the earlier incident) offside. Mane would have been onside under last season's interpretation of offside.
Controversy rating 8/10: This was the first time we had seen offside given from the new shoulder/arm point, so it's understandable many fans could not comprehend how the goal had been disallowed. The angle, and the offside lines, were unclear on the VAR graphic, leading to added confusion.
VAR rating 6/10: VAR gets a 6 here because protocol was followed correctly. However, as the offside technology cannot be considered 100% reliable, there will always be questions offside to such small margins -- especially when emotional, match-winning goals are ruled out.
Dier handball penalty
Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle (Sept. 27)
What happened? Andy Carroll rose to head a cross into the box in the 93rd minute, which was blocked by Eric Dier, who had his arm raised above his shoulder. A penalty was awarded and Callum Wilson scored a dramatic 97th-minute equaliser.
What about the review? The referee, Peter Bankes, did not spot the infringement but was advised to check a possible handball by the VAR, Lee Mason. As the handball law was being more strictly enforced in the Premier League following pressure from FIFA, it was always going to be a penalty. Dier had his back to the play, so could not see the ball when it hit his arm -- but there is no dispensation in law for this.
Controversy rating 10/10: This was a watershed moment, the fifth handball penalty awarded by the VAR just three weeks into the season. It caused by far the most controversy and a huge media backlash, effectively leading to a relaxing of the handball interpretation in general to reduce the number of penalties. Ironically, however, this kind of incident would still be a penalty under the revised interpretation.
VAR rating 10/10: Like it or not, this was perfect VAR. Whatever we may think about the law itself, it is the law and the referees have to follow it. FIFA says there is no room for leeway on handball when a defender has his arm above shoulder height -- regardless of any intent.
- Watch the incident on Tottenham's YouTube channel
Havertz handball in build-up
West Brom 3-3 Chelsea (Sept. 26)
What happened? Chelsea had been 3-0 down at West Brom after just 27 minutes, but stormed back in the second half to take a point through Tammy Abraham's 93rd-minute goal.
What about the review? The VAR, Darren England, checked for a handball against Kai Havertz. The ball had hit the midfielder's arm and dropped to Hal Robson-Kanu, whose failed clearance only reached Mason Mount -- his shot was parried by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Abraham tapped in.
Controversy rating 6/10: This was the first time a goal had been allowed following a handball which almost certainly would have been ruled out last season. A law change now requires immediacy of the handball to the goal -- so the ball must fall straight to Mount rather than there be a failed clearance from Robson-Kanu first. The confusion over attacking and defensive handball means many fans could not understand how this could be allowed yet soft penalties were being awarded for very similar offences.
VAR rating 10/10: The VAR checked to make sure Havertz's handball wasn't deliberate, which could have ruled out the goal. It wasn't, so the check was swift with no need for a lengthy stoppage.
Man United get a penalty after full-time
Brighton 2-3 Man United (Sept. 26)
What happened? Brighton had equalised against Man United in the 95th minute. United went up the other end from the kick off for one last-ditch attack, but it looked as though it had come to nothing when Harry Maguire's header was cleared off the line by Solly March and referee Chris Kavanagh blew the final whistle.
What about the review? The VAR, Simon Hooper, identified a possible handball by Neal Maupay, who had raised his arm to try and block Maguire's header. Kavanagh reviewed pitchside, and awarded the penalty which was scored by Bruno Fernandes to win the game in the 100th minute.
Controversy rating 7/10: Most people accepted that Maupay did commit a handball offence, and a penalty was the correct decision. But this was the first time the Premier League had seen a penalty awarded after the final whistle had been blown, so many fans could not understand how it was possible.
VAR rating 10/10: Maupay had his arm above his shoulder and the ball hit it from Maguire's header as it went toward goal. VAR protocol states that if the offence has been committed before the referee has blown the final whistle, it should still be penalised. So, for all the controversy, this was VAR working exactly as it should.