2025/26 Premier League Table Without ‘VAR Errors’
2025/26 Premier League Table Without ‘VAR Errors’
Remember a world when VAR (Video Assistant Referee) wasn’t available for referees in the Premier League? The game flowed and there was far less controversy surrounding the standard of officiating in England’s top flight – but that is no longer the case after the technology was unanimously voted for and, therefore, introduced in the 2019/20 season following a successful test in the campaign prior.
VAR was implemented as a means of giving referees an edge when identifying, and possibly correcting, “clear and obvious errors” in four key areas: goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identity.
A dedicated VAR figure has, since, monitored every single game in the Premier League – and, despite the constant murmurs over its effectiveness in England, there is little chance that league chiefs will be getting rid of it any time soon. So, as we settle into the 2025/26 campaign, which teams have benefitted the most from VAR errors? And which teams, in comparison, have suffered the most?
Using data from Squawka, who had their X (formerly Twitter) followers vote in polls, there have been handful of Premier League clubs that were on the receiving end of what supporters felt were bad calls since the current season started. Let’s take a closer look at the winners and losers of errors, which have been committed with the use of VAR, from 2025/26.
Crystal Palace and Fulham Race up The Table
In terms of teams that are suffering the most from VAR errors, Fulham – managed by the favourable Marco Silva – are the worst off. As things stand, their start to the season sees them in eighth place in the actual Premier League standings, but the removal of VAR would see them jump up to fourth, a spot that would secure them Champions League action for next term. They are, as a result, two points worse off.
Fulham, alongside Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, are the three teams that have had two VAR decisions go against them this season; and, for each one of them, they are two points, and four places, worse off. The most notable VAR blunder regarding the west Londoners is when Josh King’s goal was disallowed in their 2-0 loss to Chelsea for a wrongly-accused challenge from Rodrigo Muniz on the half-way line.
As of 25 September, it has been reported that Crystal Palace, undefeated in 17 matches stretching back to mid-April, have had one ‘VAR error’ go against them, which resulted in them dropping one point. Without the technology, Oliver Glasner’s high-flying men would be one point better off, leapfrogging the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur into second place behind reigning champions, Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Arsenal Would Be Six Places Worse Off
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have finished three seasons on the trot just behind the table toppers, and they’ll be looking to buck that trend this time around as the pressure mounts on them to secure silverware. Will it happen? That remains to be seen, but they’ve been helped massively by VAR since their first game of the campaign – a 1-0 win over Manchester United, courtesy of a Riccardo Calafoiri header.
In fact, there is no other team in the league that has benefitted from the use of VAR more than the Gunners: in the Premier League table without ‘VAR errors’, they’d be six places worse off, from second to eighth, than what they currently are. In their season curtain-raiser (the aforementioned victory over Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils), William Saliba could’ve counted himself lucky to not give a penalty away on Matheus Cunha.
If Bruno Fernandes had stepped up and converted – as Squawka has presumed – Arteta, widely regarded as one of the best managers in world football, and his title-chasing men would be two points worse off as they would’ve drawn that game 1-1. That would see them drop to eighth place in the league, level on points with the likes of Everton, newly-promoted Sunderland and Newcastle United.
Other Winners and Losers, Including Newcastle Utd
Let’s talk about some other winners and losers. Without the errors from VAR this season, David Moyes’ Everton – who have impressed in the infant stages of 2025/26 – would be three places higher than their current position: 10th. They, however, would only be one point better off, but they’d be ranked higher than Arteta’s men as James Tarkowski conceded a late penalty in his side’s 1-0 loss to Leeds United.
As a result, they are two points worse off as the VAR error meant they went from a drawing position to walking away from Elland Road empty-handed. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, too, have been negatively affected – by the tune of three places – by VAR-led errors in 2025/26. They would’ve earned two extra points as Nick Woltemade was denied a penalty in their goalless draw with Bournemouth on September 21.
On the other end of the spectrum are the likes of Regis Le Bris-managed Sunderland and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who would be two places worse off without VAR errors this term. Elsewhere, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are hoping to stay afloat come May 2026 – and thanks to VAR errors, the Whites are one point better off. They would’ve dropped to 15th, from 12th, if VAR was on point.
No Change In Relegation Spots
Season-upon-season, if you disregard the race for the title, those hustling and bustling for European spots and teams settling for mid-table obscurity, the relegation dogfight retains its intensity. Three teams go down, and they are replaced by a triumvirate of sides that win promotion from the Championship – and this time around, the early matches would predict that West Ham United, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers could be in serious trouble.
West Ham United, who are struggling under Graham Potter’s stewardship, have had the solitary VAR error go in their favour, but that has not resulted in their Premier League standings being affected. The aforementioned error refers to Tottenham Hotspur’s goal against the east Londoners being ruled out for a push on Kyle Walker-Peters from Micky van de Ven; a decision that James Maddison was furious.
Unai Emery’s Villa are currently in a bit of a funk but, as things stand, they’ve had just one VAR-inspired decision go their way thus far and none that have gone against the Midlands-based outfit. Elsewhere, Wolves have also benefited from one VAR-led decision this term – Yerson Mosquera avoiding a red card in their 1-0 loss to Newcastle recently – but, like others in the three-side relegation battle, their standing (rock bottom of the top flight) would not have changed.