The referee, the cards and every VAR overturn for all 10 games of Matchweek 1, played Fri 21 Aug to Mon 24 Aug: 10 different referees and 2 VAR overturns recorded by the data feed.
Matchweek 1 officials
| Date | Fixture | Score | Referee | Yellows | Reds | VAR overturns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 21 Aug | Arsenal v Coventry | 3-0 | Tom Bramall | 1-1 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Sat 22 Aug | Hull v United | 2-0 | Darren England | 2-1 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Sat 22 Aug | Everton v Palace | 2-0 | Paul Tierney | 0-1 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Sat 22 Aug | Ipswich v Sunderland | 2-1 | Farai Hallam | 0-3 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Sat 22 Aug | Forest v Leeds | 0-1 | Rob Jones | 2-1 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Sat 22 Aug | Brentford v Spurs | 3-0 | Michael Oliver | 1-1 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Sun 23 Aug | Brighton v Villa | 4-0 | Peter Bankes | 2-3 | 0-1 | Card upgraded to red after VAR review (Aston Villa, João Gomes, 39') |
| Sun 23 Aug | City v Bournemouth | 2-1 | Jarred Gillett | 1-2 | 0-0 | Goal awarded after VAR review (Manchester City, Joško Gvardiol, 90+2') |
| Sun 23 Aug | Newcastle v Liverpool | 2-2 | Stuart Attwell | 5-3 | 0-0 | None recorded |
| Mon 24 Aug | Fulham v Chelsea | 2-3 | John Brooks | 2-3 | 0-0 | None recorded |
Yellows and reds are home-away, as recorded by the data feed.
What the KMI panel said about Matchweek 1
Votes are written as the Premier League prints them: the first figure is the number of panellists who agreed with the printed verdict.
- Brighton v Villa, Sun 23 Aug, 37:20. Sending off not given. Actions of Gomes (AVL) on Rutter (BHA). On-field decision: incorrect, violent conduct by Gomes (0:5); VAR overturned the on-field decision, which the panel found correct (5:0). The referee was Peter Bankes.
"The VAR intervention to award a red card for violent conduct was unanimously supported. Gomes kicked out at Rutter after the ball had gone."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 1, published by the Premier League on 2 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- Brighton v Villa, Sun 23 Aug, 78:53. Penalty not awarded. Challenge by McGinn (AVL) on Osman (BHA). On-field decision: incorrect, foul by McGinn (1:4); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct, not a clear and obvious error (3:2). The referee was Peter Bankes.
"The panel were split, 4:1, with the majority feeling that a penalty should have been awarded on-field. McGinn steps into challenge Osman and makes contact without playing the ball. Whilst the majority of the panel preferred the outcome to be a penalty, with the high threshold for VAR intervention, the majority, 3:2, felt that it was not a clear and obvious error."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 1, published by the Premier League on 2 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- 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).
- Newcastle v Liverpool, Sun 23 Aug, 90:00+05:09. Penalty awarded. Challenge by Hall (NEW) on Munoz (LIV). On-field decision: correct (5:0); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct (5:0). The referee was Stuart Attwell.
"The panel unanimously supported the Referee's call of a penalty. Hall stepped across Munoz making contact with the attacker and not with the ball."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 1, published by the Premier League on 2 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- Brentford v Spurs, Sat 22 Aug, 46:56. Penalty not awarded. Challenge by Senesi (TOT) on Collins (BRE). 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 penalty, understanding that there is a slight pull on Collins' shirt, but judging that Collins had initially instigated the contact with Senesi before going to ground."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 1, published by the Premier League on 2 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
- Fulham v Chelsea, Mon 24 Aug, 18:52. Penalty not awarded. Handball appeal against Robinson (FUL). On-field decision: correct (4:1); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct (4:1). The referee was John Brooks.
"The Referee's call of no penalty for a potential handball offence against Robinson was supported, 4:1. The ball comes off his head before making contact with his arm as he is stooping to clear. One panellist felt that the movement of Robinson's right arm was deliberate and a penalty should have been awarded."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 1, published by the Premier League on 2 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.