Ranking Premier League clubs by how they have been affected by VAR in 2023-24
Remember when it was said that the introduction of VAR would reduce controversy in football?
We are now into the fifth season of the Premier League using a video assistant referee to help the on-pitch match officials reach the right decisions. Certain issues have been ironed out over time, but in 2023-24 it remains far from perfect.
But which clubs benefit and are most disadvantaged by VAR this season? We’re keeping a rolling tally throughout 2023-24 of every VAR decision and which clubs have been most affected, positively or negatively.
Note: we’ve only included figures that relate to overturned decisions only so do not include VAR referrals that have upheld the officials’ original decisions or controversial calls where VAR didn’t intervene.
Brentford +1
Thomas Frank’s Bees benefitted from the video assistant referee Tony Harrington advised Robert Jones to take a look at a Son Heung-Min challenge on Mathias Jensen.
Jones deemed it a foul, pointed to the spot, and Bryan Mbeumo converted his penalty in the 2-2 draw.
Manchester City +1
The first VAR decision of the 2023-24 campaign to favour Manchester City was a pretty inconsequential one, really.
They were already three goals up with the points secured against Burnley when VAR intervened to advise referee Craig Pawson to look at the pitchside monitor for a replay of a dangerous Anass Zaroury lunge on Kyle Walker deep into injury time.
Zaroury was then dismissed as Pawson changed his original decision.
Chelsea – 0
Things evened with two marginal offside calls in Chelsea’s clash at home to Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah was denied a seventh successive opening weekend goal after he’d strayed marginally offside following a well-worked move, a goal that would’ve seen Jurgen Klopp’s Reds go two goals ahead at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were then denied the lead 10 minutes later for a similarly tight VAR review caught Ben Chilwell offside.
Liverpool – 0
Liverpool can justifiably feel aggrieved that VAR didn’t intervene to help overturn the ridiculously harsh call to send off Alexis Mac Allister against Bournemouth, though.
Burnley -1
Coming out on the other side of the VAR call from the aforementioned Zaroury challenge in the opening fixture were Vincent Kompany’s Clarets.
The only controversy was how Pawson didn’t make the right decision in the first place and even the Burnley boss had no qualms.
“It’s a striker trying to make a tactical foul, tackling with the technique of a striker unfortunately,” Kompany said.
“No complaints, the technique was wrong and it could have been bad.
“I don’t think in the end he touches him too hard, it’s not full contact, it’s not a leg breaker, but it could have been a bad tackle and you have to accept the consequences.”
Tottenham -1
On the other end of Brentford’s penalty call (above).
