Full Breakdown
Premier League VAR Missed Penalty Sparks Debate Over Refereeing Consistency
5/15/2026, 8:27:48 PM
Missed Penalty Sparks VAR Controversy
In a Premier League match at Goodison Park, Everton led Manchester City 3-2 when a corner was taken. Bernardo Silva held Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl, but VAR official Paul Howard ruled the holding occurred before the corner, preventing a penalty. The game finished 3-3 after Jeremy Doku’s stoppage-time equaliser for City.
Background and Recent Error Record
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has now confirmed three further VAR mistakes, raising the season total to 23. The three newly identified errors bring the total to 23 for the season. The panel has recorded three errors involving penalties, two of which should have been awarded for holding offences. Everton remains the only club this season without a VAR decision in its favour. The panel’s assessment was unanimous among its five members.
Official Reactions
The KMI panel concluded that a clear, sustained holding offence persisted as the corner was taken. Everton manager David Moyes said he was disappointed that no penalty was awarded.
Criticism and Impact
Moyes’s comment underscores frustration with the timing rule that prevented a penalty despite a visible holding offence. The incident adds to the 23 VAR errors recorded this season.
Conflicting Reports
The source provides no comment from referee Michael Oliver or VAR Paul Howard explaining the pre-corner timing decision, leaving a gap in the official narrative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If that doesn't get given as a penalty, then it's an absolute free-for-all from now on,” — David Moyes, Everton manager
- “there is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play” — KMI panel consensus
- “Three more video assistant referee errors have been confirmed by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel, taking the total this season to 23.” — KMI panel report
- “The panel has recorded three errors involving penalties, two of which should have been awarded for holding offences.” — KMI panel report
- “Everton, the only team not to get a VAR intervention in their favour this season, were wrongly denied a spot-kick against Manchester City.” — KMI panel report
- “City equalised deep into stoppage time through Jeremy Doku to snatch a 3-3 draw.” — Match summary
Next Steps
The KMI panel will continue its season-long audit of VAR interventions. Clubs may lodge formal concerns, and the Premier League is expected to consider procedural adjustments before upcoming fixtures. Any adjustments would be considered before the next round of fixtures.