Analyzing VAR Decisions in the Premier League: A Deep Dive

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) continues to spark debate every weekend in the Premier League, prompting ongoing discussion about interpretation, consistency, and the fine balance between technology and human judgment.

This week, Andy Davies, a former Select Group referee with over 12 seasons of top-flight experience, breaks down two major incidents — offering expert insight into the VAR protocols, Laws of the Game, and the reasoning behind the final calls.

Incident 1: Virgil van Dijk’s Disallowed Goal

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Michael Oliver
Time: 38 minutes

What happened:
In the 38th minute, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk headed home from a Mohamed Salah corner, appearing to give his team the lead. However, assistant referee Stuart Burt flagged for offside against Andrew Robertson, who was positioned close to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and deemed to be interfering with play.

VAR Decision:
VAR Michael Oliver upheld the on-field call, confirming that Robertson was in an offside position and that his proximity to Donnarumma impacted the goalkeeper’s ability to react to the header.

VAR Review:
Under Law 11 (Offside), a player in an offside position is only penalized if they interfere with play or an opponent. In this case, Oliver’s assessment centered on whether Robertson’s position obstructed Donnarumma’s line of sight or limited his movement to make a save.

The incident was ultimately classified as subjective interference, not a “clear and obvious error,” meaning an on-field review (OFR) was unnecessary.

Verdict:
A contentious but defensible call. The distance between Robertson and Donnarumma, as well as any potential blocking of the goalkeeper’s vision, made this a borderline decision. The officiating team applied the law consistently, and the VAR’s decision to support the on-field ruling was within protocol. While many may disagree, it falls within acceptable interpretation.

Incident 2: Possible Penalty for Mamardashvili’s Challenge on Doku

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Michael Oliver
Time: 9 minutes

What happened:
In the ninth minute, Jeremy Doku latched onto a loose ball and attempted to round Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who rushed out to intercept. The goalkeeper’s knee made slight contact with Doku’s trailing foot, sending the forward tumbling. Kavanagh waved play on, deeming the challenge incidental.

VAR Decision:
Following a review, VAR Michael Oliver identified contact sufficient to constitute a foul and advised an on-field review. After viewing multiple angles, Kavanagh reversed his original call and awarded a penalty to Manchester City.

VAR Review:
The foul met the threshold for intervention under VAR protocol, which stipulates that clear contact affecting an attacker’s ability to play the ball merits review. Though the contact appeared minimal, it clearly disrupted Doku’s balance and denied him a chance to shoot.

Verdict:
A correct use of VAR. The initial non-call was understandable given the speed and subtlety of the collision, but video evidence showed sufficient contact for a foul. Kavanagh’s decision after review was consistent with both the Laws of the Game and VAR best practices — a textbook example of technology improving accuracy.

Analysis: A Tale of Subjectivity and Clarity

These two moments encapsulate the ongoing VAR debate: the tension between subjective interpretation (as seen in the van Dijk decision) and clear, factual intervention (as in Doku’s penalty).

While VAR cannot eliminate controversy entirely, incidents like these highlight its dual role — providing correction when an obvious error occurs while also preserving the referee’s authority in cases open to interpretation.

As Andy Davies notes, “VAR isn’t designed to make football perfect — it’s designed to make it fairer.”