The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has recorded 13 VAR errors in the first half of the season, a 30% increase from the 10 mistakes at the same stage last season. However, this is an improvement on previous years, with 20 errors in 2023-24 and 23 in 2022-23.
The panel meets weekly to review decisions, comprising three former players or coaches, plus representatives from the Premier League and refereeing body PGMO. Of the 13 errors, all but two were missed interventions where VAR failed to advise the referee to change his decision. Total overturns have dropped from 57 last season to 47 this term.
One high-profile blunder occurred at Chelsea, where Fulham's Josh King had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up that the panel deemed normal contact. VAR Michael Salisbury was subsequently stood down. Another incident involved Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi escaping a red card for a deliberate handball that denied a clear goalscoring opportunity; VAR Michael Oliver only checked the initial contact.
Other errors include a penalty not awarded to Wolves after Hugo Bueno was fouled, and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo being denied a clear goalscoring opportunity when Nathan Collins pulled him back, with the defender only receiving a yellow card. The panel also noted 15 on-field mistakes not deemed clear and obvious enough for VAR intervention.
The KMI Panel's independent assessment aims to keep refereeing performance stats out of the hands of PGMO. With 20 matches remaining, the number of errors could rise further, continuing to fuel debate over the system's effectiveness.
