The 10 most controversial VAR decisions in Premier League history

From a goal disallowed by a communication breakdown to a penalty given after the final whistle, these are the VAR calls that have caused the most outrage since the technology's introduction.

VAR was introduced to the Premier League in 2019 to eliminate the kind of glaring officiating errors that had plagued the game for decades. Instead, it has produced its own catalogue of controversy. Here are 10 of the most contentious decisions since its introduction.

Díaz’s disallowed goal – Tottenham vs Liverpool (2023)

Widely regarded as the worst VAR error in Premier League history. Díaz’s goal was ruled out for offside despite replays clearly showing he was onside, the result of a catastrophic miscommunication between VAR official Darren England and referee Simon Hooper.

Play had already restarted by the time the mistake was realised, meaning it couldn’t be corrected. Liverpool lost the match, and PGMOL issued a formal apology.

PGMOL has released the full audio from the VAR hub relating to the Luis Diaz goal that was incorrectly disallowed in Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/fyKqBPmLmP

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) October 3, 2023

The Hawkeye failure – Aston Villa vs Sheffield United (2020)

Not strictly a VAR decision, but closely linked to it. Ollie Norwood’s free-kick clearly crossed the line before Aston Villa’s Ørjan Nyland scrambled it away, yet the goal-line technology failed to register it.

Hawk-Eye later apologised, admitting its cameras had been “significantly occluded” for the first time in over 9,000 matches. The match finished goalless.

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

Hawkeye the company that runs PL technology has issued an apology saying the goal should have stood for Sheffield United against Aston Villa! pic.twitter.com/lwszJFwX1q

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 17, 2020

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Liverpool denied a foul before Rashford’s goal – Manchester United vs Liverpool (2019)

A clear foul on Divock Origi went unpunished, allowing United to break away and score through Marcus Rashford. VAR reviewed the goal but let it stand, leaving Liverpool, then unbeaten, incensed.

Toney’s wrongly allowed goal – Arsenal vs Brentford (2023)

VAR official Lee Mason spent so long checking an earlier offside call on Ethan Pinnock that he forgot to draw the lines checking Christian Nørgaard’s position in the buildup, missing a clear offside. Arsenal, leading at the time through Leandro Trossard, were held to a 1-1 draw. Mason left PGMOL by mutual consent shortly afterwards.

Fabian Balbuena’s red card – West Ham vs Chelsea (2021)

Balbuena slipped while clearing the ball, accidentally catching Ben Chilwell with his trailing leg. VAR deemed it excessive force and the on-field red card stood, with Chelsea winning 1-0. The card was later rescinded on appeal, too late to undo the damage to West Ham’s result.

🗣”It was a decision made by someone who has never played the game, it was a rubbish decision”

West Ham boss David Moyes says Fabian Balbuena’s red card changed the game against Chelsea pic.twitter.com/FLCcXwZDIH

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 24, 2021

Foden denied a penalty – Manchester City vs Southampton (2021)

Alex McCarthy clattered into Foden inside the box after a heavy touch, but VAR chose not to intervene, waving away what many considered a clear penalty in a match City went on to win 5-2.

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Kane’s studs-up challenge on Robertson – Tottenham vs Liverpool (2021)

Kane escaped a red card for a dangerous, studs-up challenge on Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, with VAR declining to upgrade the yellow card in a match that finished 2-2, one in which Robertson himself was later sent off for a separate challenge.

🗣 “I think he’s got really lucky.”

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher speaks on Ref Watch about if Harry Kane should have received a red card for his tackle on Andy Robertson this weekend..👀pic.twitter.com/4WpyU3kXnI

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) December 20, 2021

Pickford’s challenge on Virgil van Dijk – Everton vs Liverpool (2020)

Pickford’s reckless collision with Van Dijk in the Merseyside derby caused a season-ending knee injury. No penalty was awarded and no card was shown, partly because Van Dijk had already been flagged offside in the passage of play, a loophole that fuelled fresh criticism of the system.

The VAR in charge of Everton vs Liverpool did not check for a red card for Jordan Pickford as he forgot that a player can be sent off after an offside decision, according to the Daily Mail 😳 pic.twitter.com/YKTOgGmu9N

— GOAL (@goal) October 20, 2020

Rodri’s handball – Everton vs Manchester City (2022)

Everton were denied what looked like a clear penalty after Rodri appeared to handle the ball in his own box in a 1-0 defeat. VAR did not intervene, prompting Everton manager Frank Lampard to say his three-year-old daughter could have identified it as a penalty.

“It should’ve been a penalty.” ✅

Dermot Gallagher says the referee should’ve been sent to the monitor when Rodri was deemed to commit a handball against Everton #RefWatch pic.twitter.com/Tqzlx9hAoT

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 28, 2022

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The penalty given after full-time – Manchester United vs Brighton (2020)

With the scores level and the final whistle blown, referee Chris Kavanagh called all 22 players back onto the pitch after a VAR review flagged a Neal Maupay handball. United were awarded a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted in the 100th minute to snatch a 3-2 win that had, moments earlier, looked like a draw.