A detailed analysis of VAR interventions in the Premier League season shows that the technology significantly impacted the final standings, with Bournemouth being the hardest hit—potentially losing a Champions League place.
BBC Sport identified 29 matches where VAR almost certainly changed the result. The timing of interventions is key: a stoppage-time red card has minimal effect, but a late penalty, like the one that gave Manchester United a 3-2 win over Burnley, can decide the outcome.
Title Race on the Final Day
Arsenal won the title by seven points, but gained four via VAR—in wins against West Ham and Everton. Without those, Arsenal and Manchester City would have been level on 78 points heading into the final day, with City top on goal difference. The title could have been decided on the last day rather than secured earlier.
Bournemouth in the Champions League?
Bournemouth, Burnley, and Tottenham were the clubs most affected by VAR, each losing four points. Bournemouth had a goal ruled out for offside in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea and an Evanilson effort disallowed against Leeds when leading 2-1 (match ended 2-2). With those four points, Bournemouth would have finished with 61 points, one ahead of Liverpool and in the final Champions League spot.
Other European Places Shift
Brighton, three points worse off, would move into a Europa League position. Chelsea, despite many positive VAR decisions, lost two points overall. Adding those back would put Alonso's new team into the Conference League. Sunderland would drop out of European places, falling to 10th.
Biggest Winners and Losers
Brentford gained five points—the most in the league—from two VAR interventions that gave them a 4-3 win over Burnley and a disallowed Villa goal in a 1-0 win. Without those, they drop from ninth to 13th. Manchester United and Arsenal also gained four points each. Tottenham suffered three result-changing VAR calls against Liverpool, Sunderland, and Leeds, which made their season far less traumatic; they would finish 15th without those decisions.
VAR Metrics
Chelsea topped the net score (+6) but were on +9 before the final weeks. They had the most interventions in their favor (11). Everton were the only team with a net score of -5 and the only side not to receive a single VAR decision in their favor all season. The key match incidents panel ruled they should have been given penalties against Arsenal, West Ham, and City.
Fulham had the most interventions (19) and decisions against (10). Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Wolves had the fewest decisions against (three each).
In terms of goals, Newcastle gained the most from VAR (five), while Chelsea had the most opposition goals disallowed (six). Everton and Bournemouth had zero opposition goals ruled out.
This analysis shows that while VAR aims for fairness, its impact can be uneven, potentially altering historic outcomes like a club's first Champions League qualification.