VAR: A Solution Turned Problem
Initially introduced to eliminate controversy from football, VAR has arguably done the opposite—fueling confusion and frustration among fans. Despite its goal of delivering clear, accurate decisions, its frequent inconsistencies and subjective interpretations have often undermined that purpose.
Even with the Premier League season concluded, VAR remains a talking point. Throughout the campaign, Squawka surveyed supporters on whether they believed VAR got the key calls right. Now, with the season wrapped, Squawka has revealed what the final league standings might have looked like if every decision had been correct, with no errors from the technology.
Arsenal Narrowly Miss Title, Liverpool’s Lead Shrinks
Arsenal, who were tipped as title contenders early on, fell out of the race well before the season’s end. However, Squawka’s analysis indicates that controversial officiating may have widened the gap more than necessary. Mikel Arteta’s side suffered three disputed red card decisions, one of which saw William Saliba sent off against Bournemouth after VAR intervention. Without such calls—or had VAR not escalated incidents—Arsenal might have ended just two points behind Liverpool, rather than the actual ten-point gap.
In this adjusted scenario, Arsenal gain five points while Liverpool lose three. The rest of the top four stays unchanged, with Manchester City and Chelsea holding onto third and fourth. The significant shakeup comes in the battle for fifth place.
VAR Frustration for Forest Pays Off in Hypothetical Table
Nottingham Forest, long vocal about their grievances with VAR, would have had even more reason to be upset under this revision. If VAR had made no errors, Forest would have claimed the final Champions League spot, while Newcastle and Aston Villa would each drop one place.
Brentford Denied Historic Finish
Brentford enjoyed an impressive campaign, finishing 10th despite losing top scorer Ivan Toney. Stellar performances from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa helped keep the Bees competitive. However, they should have finished 8th with 60 points, just shy of a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
VAR went against Brentford in four separate decisions, without a single one in their favor—only Arsenal and Aston Villa fared worse in that regard. In contrast, Brighton, one of the teams Brentford would’ve overtaken, had five favorable calls and none against.
Elsewhere in the top half, Crystal Palace would have leapfrogged Fulham, slightly sweetening their season capped by an FA Cup victory.
Wolves Leapfrog United in Alternate Universe
Manchester United’s poor season could have looked even worse. In a twist of fate, Wolves—the club they recently signed Matheus Cunha from for £62.5 million—would have finished ahead of them had VAR not intervened. The Wolverhampton side would’ve climbed to 14th, pushing United down to 15th.
Tottenham also benefit, rising to 16th, which in turn means West Ham would be the biggest losers, finishing just above the relegation zone.
Minor Shift at the Bottom
The relegation battle remains mostly unchanged, though Ipswich Town would claim 18th place, nudging ahead of Leicester City. While it wouldn’t change their fate, it could have slightly improved their financial payout from the league.