Premier League VAR Controversy: The 4 Calls That Made Matchweek 10 VAR's Worst Week

Four decisions in one weekend reopened the biggest VAR controversy of the season. Across Matchweek 10 (7-8 November 2026), officials at Old Trafford, the Emirates, Elland Road and the Stadium of Light all faced hard questions. Until then, BBC Sport reported that the Key Match Incidents panel had logged just two VAR errors in eight rounds. That calm ended fast. At The Sports Corner, we checked every name against English sources and break down what the rules say about each call.

Man Utd vs Aston Villa: Dorgu's 96th-Minute Equalizer and the Lammens Contact

The game finished 4-4, and the last goal caused the loudest argument. From a corner, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens moved forward and stood in front of Villa keeper Zion Suzuki. Suzuki missed the ball, and Patrick Dorgu headed home in the 96th minute. Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed the goal after a VAR check, and Villa's players were furious.

The comparison with last August is hard to avoid. Arsenal scored at Old Trafford on the opening day of last season after William Saliba backed into United keeper Altay Bayindir, and that goal stood too. Dale Johnson of BBC Sport points out that Lammens was not watching the ball, which usually raises the chance of intervention. Even so, he expects the KMI panel to find no VAR error, because the Premier League sets a high bar for stepping in and the contact was too small for VAR to act.

Arsenal vs Hull City: Havertz Is Fouled, but Offside Decides the Call

Arsenal won 1-0, yet the strangest ruling of the weekend came before halftime. Around the 42nd minute, Hull defender Nobel Mendy pulled Kai Havertz's shirt inside the box. VAR Michael Oliver sent referee Farai Hallam to the pitchside monitor. Hallam agreed it was a holding offense, then gave Hull a free kick because Havertz stood in an offside position.

That is where the law was misread. A player in an offside position only becomes involved by committing an offside offense, and Havertz never challenged for the ball. The foul came first, so a penalty should have followed. Johnson said so live, and former assistant referee Darren Cann agreed on Match of the Day. BBC Sport rates it as one of the two calls most likely to be logged as an error. Martin Odegaard's 72nd-minute goal spared Arsenal the cost. For more on the Gunners, read our Burmese-language Arsenal analysis.

Leeds vs Spurs: Bogle Stamps on Tel and Escapes a Card

Leeds won 1-0, but the main talking point arrived before halftime. Jayden Bogle landed his studs on the back of Mathys Tel's left Achilles. Referee John Brooks gave a foul but no card. VAR Tony Harrington spent more than four minutes studying the angles, then confirmed the on-field call without sending Brooks to the monitor. The Premier League Match Centre described the challenge as reckless, which normally means a yellow card, yet Bogle received nothing. Tel could not continue, and BBC reports that Tottenham plan to write to Pro Ref.

Johnson called it a difficult one, because the contact came from Bogle's supporting foot rather than his challenging foot. He still said the challenge was painful, and he expects the KMI panel to split depending on which former players sit that week. Former referee Keith Hackett was blunter and said it deserved a red card.

Sunderland vs Chelsea: Why Palmer's Penalty Appeal Failed

Sunderland beat Chelsea 1-0 through an Enzo Le Fee penalty after Levi Colwill fouled Brian Brobbey. The earlier incident drew the debate. About 24 minutes in, Cole Palmer went down under challenges from Luke O'Nien and Jules Ahoka on the edge of the area. Referee Jarred Gillett waved play on, and VAR confirmed that any contact with Palmer happened outside the box. Oddly, Gillett did not award a free kick either, which left Sky's Ref Watch panel puzzled.

Here the rule matters. The first contact point decides where a foul happened. If a player is fouled outside the area and falls inside, it stays a free kick, with holding offenses the exception. BBC Sport expects the KMI panel to back the decision, since there is no clear proof the contact started inside the area. Hackett disagreed and argued that available images showed contact in the box.

What Is the KMI Panel and How Does It Judge Premier League VAR Errors?

The Key Match Incidents panel is an independent group that reviews every contentious decision and votes on whether the referee and VAR got it right. It has five members: three former players or coaches, plus one representative each from the Premier League and PGMOL. Its votes are the source of every headline about Premier League VAR errors, so the tally of VAR errors this season only changes when the panel rules. Before this weekend, BBC Sport said that tally stood at two after eight rounds, against six at the same stage last year.

One important caution: the panel had not published its Matchweek 10 rulings when we wrote this. The verdicts above are BBC Sport's expectations, which estimate two to four errors from the weekend, not official votes. We will cover the official rulings in [LINK TO POST 2]. For a wider view on officiating, see our Burmese-language take on Premier League referees.

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Frequently Asked Questions about VAR controversy

Which VAR calls caused the most controversy in Matchweek 10?

Four stood out: Dorgu's 96th-minute equalizer for Manchester United against Aston Villa, the denied Havertz penalty in Arsenal vs Hull City, Bogle's challenge on Tel at Leeds, and Palmer's penalty appeal at Sunderland.

Should Arsenal have been awarded a penalty against Hull City?

Under the laws, yes. BBC Sport and former officials say the foul on Havertz came before any offside offense, so the foul should take priority. The official KMI ruling is still pending.

Why was Jayden Bogle not sent off against Spurs?

Brooks gave a foul without a card, and VAR Harrington confirmed that decision, treating the challenge as reckless rather than serious foul play. Many former officials disagree with that view.

How does the KMI panel decide whether VAR made an error?

Five members vote separately on the referee's decision and on whether VAR should have intervened. An error is logged when the panel finds a clear and obvious mistake that VAR should have corrected.