VAR Blunders Rock 2024-25 Premier League: How Official Errors Derailed Man United's Campaign

Although VAR remains unpopular among many football fans, the technology continues to be a permanent fixture, with the 2024–25 season proving to be another challenging period for its implementation and operators in the Premier League.

In its fifth year within England's premier division, VAR remained a central topic of weekly discussion, with its decisions—whether intervening or not—regularly frustrating coaches, players and supporters nationwide.

Each team has begun compiling records of how VAR decisions have disadvantaged them, while social media echo chambers have become breeding grounds for conspiracy theories highlighting these perceived 'wrongs'.

While Premier League officials undoubtedly made numerous mistakes during 2024–25, data from ESPN now reveals which teams suffered the most from these errors.

What Was the Total Number of VAR Mistakes in the 2024–25 Premier League Season?

VAR mistakes are assessed by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI), consisting of three former managers and/or players plus one representative each from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the league's refereeing organization.

These five panel members evaluate crucial incidents by voting, considering the original referee's decision and whether VAR intervention was warranted. A decision's correctness is determined by the committee's majority vote.

The KMI panel identified just 18 VAR mistakes during the 2024–25 Premier League season, marking a substantial decrease from the previous campaign's 31 errors. Additionally, not every mistake influenced the final result of its respective match.

Premier League VAR Mistake Rankings for 2024–25

Which team suffered most from VAR mistakes in 2024–25? Brentford topped this unfortunate list, experiencing three adverse decisions while receiving no favorable ones. Bournemouth similarly endured two negative calls without any beneficial errors.

Everton emerged as the season's most fortunate club, benefiting from three favorable decisions while suffering none against them. Brighton also received three positive calls, though they did experience one unfavorable decision.

Despite common assumptions that the league's 'Big Six' receive preferential treatment from officials, both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur ended with a +1 error differential. The reigning champions benefited twice but also suffered one adverse decision—when Everton's James Tarkowski escaped a direct red card for his dangerous tackle on Alexis Mac Allister in April.

Neither Chelsea nor Manchester City were involved in any errors last season—a claim both fan bases might dispute—while Manchester United and Arsenal both faced disadvantages. Arsenal suffered one adverse decision when Myles Lewis-Skelly received an incorrect dismissal at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while United endured two negative calls against one favorable decision.

One of the season's 18 VAR errors dramatically altered Manchester United's campaign, leading to Erik ten Hag's dismissal following their devastating 2–1 loss to West Ham United in October. Matthijs de Ligt was penalized for an alleged foul in the box, enabling Jarrod Bowen to convert a stoppage-time penalty winner. However, VAR's recommendation for David Coote to conduct an on-field review was ultimately deemed incorrect.