VAR mistakes revealed as Premier League edges closer to new technology

New figures from the Premier League have revealed that there have been 13 VAR mistakes this season, down from 20 at the same point last season.

Included in the total are four incorrect VAR interventions, where VAR has wrongly stepped in when it didn't need to.

There have also been nine occasions where VAR hasn't intervened in a decision when it should have.

None of the four incorrect interventions were involving Wolves or Aston Villa.

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel, which reviews VAR decisions, has revealed there have been 70 interventions in 239 games this season, around one in every three matches.

They have also found that the accuracy of 'key match incidents is at 96.4 per cent, up from 95.7 per cent at the same point last season.

Chief football officer Tony Scholes said: "Nobody here underestimates the significance and the impact of one single error,.

"We know that one single error can cost clubs. Points and results can cost managers positions, potentially players their place."

The four incidents where VAR interventions were wrong involved Dango Outtara's disallowed goal for Bournemouth against Newcastle back in August - while a penalty was wrongly awarded in West Ham's victory over Manchester United in October.

A red card in Brentford's 0-0 draw with Everton was wrongly warded, while Nikola Milenkovic's disallowed goal for Nottingham Forest against Southampton earlier this month should have stood.

Semi-automated technology

The figures come as the Premier League has revealed that significant progress has been made towards the introduction of semi-automated technology for offside rulings.

The Premier League has been heavily criticised for many offside decisions, and they were hoping to introduce the technology, which is used in both FIFA and UEFA competitions, in either October or November.

The league has claimed that it would help reduce the time taken to check offside decisions by more than 30 seconds.

Scholes revealed that there is still an intension to bring it in this season.

He said: "This technology doesn't improve the accuracy, it makes the process more efficient.

"Why wouldn't you introduce it if you are absolutely confident it is ready?"