By Abigail David
Arsenal and Chelsea were the biggest beneficiaries of VAR and refereeing errors during the 2025-26 Premier League season, according to data released by the league’s Key Match Incidents panel.
Findings obtained by BBC Sport showed Arsenal benefited from seven incorrect officiating decisions across the campaign, while Chelsea recorded the highest positive VAR balance with eight favourable calls.
The report comes after Arsenal won the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta and completed the season without conceding a penalty or receiving a red card.
However, the panel stated that Arsenal should have conceded three penalties and received three red cards during the season.
Chelsea also benefited from several controversial incidents, including a wrongly disallowed goal for Fulham and an incorrect penalty awarded against Crystal Palace.
The panel further noted that Chelsea should have conceded penalties in matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth.
Bournemouth were also listed among clubs that benefited from officiating mistakes, including two separate incidents involving defender Marcos Senesi escaping red cards.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace and Everton were identified as the clubs most negatively affected by VAR decisions during the campaign.
Everton were reportedly denied penalties in matches against Arsenal, West Ham United and Manchester City, while Crystal Palace suffered three major incorrect decisions.
Despite the controversies, the Premier League recorded 25 VAR errors during the season, an improvement from 31 in the 2023-24 campaign and 38 in 2022-23.
