VAR overturns involving Manchester City this season: 0 went against Manchester City, 3 in Manchester City's favour (goal awarded v Bournemouth, goal awarded v United, goal awarded v Sunderland). This counts the direction of each overturn as recorded by the data feed; it is not a judgement on whether the decisions were correct. Panel verdicts, where they exist, are quoted below.
Every VAR overturn in Manchester City's games
| Date | Opponent | Score | Minute | What happened | Direction | Referee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 23 Aug | Bournemouth (H) | 2-1 | 90+2' | Goal awarded after VAR review (Manchester City, Joško Gvardiol) | In favour | Jarred Gillett |
| Sun 13 Sept | United (A) | 0-1 | 60' | Goal awarded after VAR review (Manchester City, Erling Haaland) | In favour | Michael Oliver |
| Sun 20 Sept | Sunderland (H) | 5-3 | 83' | Goal awarded after VAR review (Manchester City, Erling Haaland) | In favour | Rob Jones |
2 of Manchester City's 5 games had no VAR overturn recorded. Scores are home-away.
Covers every finished Premier League game up to Sunday 20 September 2026 (Matchweek 5). Updated 30 September 2026.
Incidents from Manchester City's games reviewed by the KMI panel
Votes are written as the Premier League prints them: the first figure is the number of panellists who agreed with the printed verdict.
- City v Bournemouth, Sun 23 Aug, 90:00+00:30. Goal not awarded. Gvardiol (MCI) in an offside position. On-field decision: incorrect, Gvardiol onside (0:5); VAR overturned the on-field decision, which the panel found correct, clear and obvious error (5:0). The referee was Jarred Gillett.
"The panel supported the VAR intervention to award the goal with Gvardiol judged to be factually onside."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 1, published by the Premier League on 2 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- United v City, Sun 13 Sept, 59:25. Goal not awarded. Haaland (MCI) in an onside position, Fernandez (MCI) in an offside position. On-field decision: incorrect, Fernandez impacting opponent (0:5); VAR overturned the on-field decision, which the panel found incorrect, clear and obvious error (0:5). The referee was Michael Oliver.
"The panel unanimously felt that the VAR intervention to award the goal was incorrect. Fernandez is in an offside position, attempts to play the ball that is close to him, and impacts the ability of the defender and the goalkeeper to play the ball in the process. A VAR review should have been recommended for a missed subjective offside in the attacking possession phase."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 4, published by the Premier League on 23 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- United v City, Sun 13 Sept, 22:15. Sending off given. Actions of Foden (MCI) on Fernandes (MUN). On-field decision: correct (3:2); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct (5:0). The referee was Michael Oliver.
"The panel supported the referee's call of a red card, 3:2, for the violent conduct following the retaliatory action of Foden pushing his legs into the midriff of Bruno. Two panellists felt that the action lacked the force to reach the threshold for a red card, and would have preferred a yellow card."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 4, published by the Premier League on 23 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- United v City, Sun 13 Sept, 22:15. Sending off not given. Actions of Fernandes (MUN) on Foden (MCI). On-field decision: correct (5:0); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct (5:0). The referee was Michael Oliver.
"The panel unanimously supported the referee's call of no red card for a potential violent conduct action by Bruno, but all felt that a yellow card would have been the appropriate punishment."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 4, published by the Premier League on 23 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
What is counted here. The data feed records that VAR intervened and what the outcome was: a goal ruled out, a goal awarded, a penalty overturned, a card upgraded. It does not record whether a decision was right, and neither does this page. "In favour" and "against" describe whose goal, penalty or card the overturn concerned. The only bodies that rule on correctness are the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel and Pro Ref, the referees' body formerly known as PGMOL; where the panel has published a verdict it is quoted with its date on the KMI panel page.
Common questions
How many VAR decisions have gone against Manchester City this season?
0 of the 3 VAR overturns recorded in Manchester City's 5 games up to 20 September 2026 concerned Manchester City's own goal, penalty or card. That is the direction of the overturn, not a verdict on it; the Premier League's panel has published verdicts on 4 incidents from Manchester City's games, quoted on this page.
Who decides whether a VAR decision was wrong?
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel, which votes on each chosen incident and publishes its verdicts about ten days after the round, and Pro Ref (formerly PGMOL) through its own statements. This site quotes both with dates and never adds a verdict of its own. See the KMI panel page.
Who has refereed Manchester City's games this season?
Every referee and the record under each is on the Manchester City referees page.