Premier League incident-by-incident: Was it a bad weekend for VAR?
The Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, which looks at every contentious decision and votes whether it is right or wrong, reported just two VAR errors after eight rounds of matches. At the same stage last season, there had been six mistakes.
Then came this weekend, during which almost every top-flight game had a controversial decision. Man United 4-4 Aston Villa Figure caption, Man Utd grab a point in dramatic fashion late on against Aston Villa Incident 1: Penalty awarded to Manchester United for a foul by Boubacar Kamara on Matheus Cunha in the 16th minute.
Verdict: The spot-kick was awarded because the Villa defender went through Cunha to win the ball. Replays clearly showed the first contact was on the Brazilian's foot.
What the KMI Panel might say: This will be a correct decision. Incident 2: Possible foul by Senne Lammens on Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki before Patrick Dorgu's 96th-minute equaliser.
Verdict: There are similarities to a goal Arsenal scored at Old Trafford last season, when William Saliba leant into United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır. Lammens was not looking at the ball, which increases the chances of a VAR intervention.
What the KMI Panel might say: With the higher bar for an intervention in the Premier League, and minimal contact, it is unlikely to be a VAR error not to disallow the goal. Arsenal 1-0 Hull Figure caption, Why Arsenal should have been given a penalty against Hull Incident: Kai Havertz was pulled down inside the area by Nobel Mendy.
The VAR, Michael Oliver, sent referee Farai Hallam to the pitchside monitor for a penalty, but it was not given due to an offside offence by the Germany international. Verdict: BBC Sportcovered this incident in detail on Saturday.
As the foul happened before any potential offside offence, the penalty should have been awarded. What the KMI Panel might say: Even though it feels wrong to reward a player in an offside position with a penalty, the law says otherwise and this is likely to be a mistake.
Leeds 1-0 Tottenham Figure caption, Should Bogle have seen red for this challenge in the Leeds v Tottenham game? Incident: Omar Bogle fouled Mathys Tel, with referee John Brooks giving the free-kick but no sanction for the Leeds player.