Brighton & Hove Albion were wrongly denied a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal FC, according to the Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel.
The incident occurred during first-half stoppage time when Gabriel Martinelli pulled down Mats Wieffer inside the box. Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue, and VAR, overseen by Michael Salisbury, did not intervene.
The panel later ruled, by a majority decision, that a penalty should have been awarded and that VAR also failed to correct the on-field call.
Panel highlights clear error
The review concluded that Martinelli was not attempting to play the ball and instead impeded Wieffer’s run, preventing him from challenging for the cross. The decision was split, but most members agreed it met the threshold for both a foul and VAR intervention.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler reacted angrily during the match and was seen in a heated exchange with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the touchline.
This marks the second time this season Arsenal have benefited from a missed VAR penalty decision in a 1-0 away win.
VAR errors continue to rise
The incident adds to growing concerns around officiating standards in the Premier League, with 18 VAR errors now recorded this season — already matching last season’s total.
In another case from the same round, Leeds United were also denied a penalty in their loss to Sunderland AFC after a holding incident involving Pascal Struijk.
Wrong red card decision for Ramsey
The panel also reviewed the red card shown to Jacob Ramsey during Newcastle United’s 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Ramsey received a second yellow card for simulation, but the panel ruled the decision incorrect, stating he had slipped rather than attempted to deceive the referee.
Currently, second yellow cards are not reviewed by VAR, but changes are expected from next season to allow limited intervention in such situations.
The latest findings once again highlight ongoing debates around VAR consistency and its impact on crucial match outcomes.
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