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Premier League · Matchweek 2

Matchweek 2 VAR decisions

2 overturns across 10 games, with the panel's published verdicts.

2 VAR overturns recorded across the 10 games of Matchweek 2, played Fri 28 Aug to Mon 31 Aug.

The overturns

DateFixtureScoreMinuteWhat happenedConcernedReferee
Sat 29 AugLiverpool v Forest2-232'Goal ruled out after VAR review, Florian WirtzLiverpoolSam Barrott
Mon 31 AugVilla v Arsenal0-155'Penalty overturned after VAR review, Bukayo SakaArsenalJarred Gillett

Every game in the round

DateFixtureScoreRefereeYellowsRedsVAR overturns
Fri 28 AugPalace v City1-4Andy Madley1-20-0None recorded
Sat 29 AugLiverpool v Forest2-2Sam Barrott4-20-0Goal ruled out after VAR review (Liverpool, Florian Wirtz, 32')
Sat 29 AugBournemouth v Everton1-1Chris Kavanagh3-20-0None recorded
Sat 29 AugCoventry v Hull0-1Josh Smith1-40-0None recorded
Sat 29 AugSpurs v Newcastle0-2Peter Bankes1-20-0None recorded
Sun 30 AugChelsea v Brighton4-3Michael Oliver1-30-0None recorded
Sun 30 AugLeeds v Brentford1-1Tony Harrington0-40-0None recorded
Sun 30 AugSunderland v Fulham1-0Michael Salisbury0-20-0None recorded
Sun 30 AugUnited v Ipswich5-2Craig Pawson1-30-0None recorded
Mon 31 AugVilla v Arsenal0-1Jarred Gillett3-10-0Penalty overturned after VAR review (Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, 55')

Yellows and reds are home-away, as recorded by the data feed.

What the KMI panel said about Matchweek 2

Votes are written as the Premier League prints them: the first figure is the number of panellists who agreed with the printed verdict.

  • Liverpool v Forest, Sat 29 Aug, 31:50. Goal awarded. Frimpong (LIV) in an onside position. On-field decision: incorrect, Frimpong offside (0:5); VAR overturned the on-field decision, which the panel found correct, factual offside (5:0). The referee was Sam Barrott.
    "The VAR overturn to disallow the goal for an offside offence against Frimpong was supported. When the ball was played, by Wirtz, Frimpong was in an offside position and then plays the ball himself. Whilst the pass makes contact with a defender this is not a 'controlled action'."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • Liverpool v Forest, Sat 29 Aug, 67:43. Penalty awarded. Challenge by Alisson (LIV) on Williams (NFO). On-field decision: incorrect, no foul by Alisson (2:3); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct, not a clear and obvious error (5:0). The referee was Sam Barrott.
    "The panel felt that the referee's call of a penalty was incorrect on-field, 3:2. The contact from Alisson was inevitable as a consequence of his momentum in attempting to save the ball; the contact made was not reckless and below the threshold for a penalty. However, the non-intervention by the VAR was unanimously supported on the basis that it was not a clear and obvious error."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • Leeds v Brentford, Sun 30 Aug, 65:37. Penalty not awarded. Challenge by Bogle (LDS) on Schade (BRE). On-field decision: incorrect, foul by Bogle (1:4); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct, not a clear and obvious error (3:2). The referee was Tony Harrington.
    "The panel felt that a penalty should have been awarded for a foul by Bogle on Schade, 4:1. There was foot on foot contact instigated by Bogle with enough contact for a penalty kick. However, given the high threshold for VAR intervention, the panel felt the referee's call should remain on-field as it wasn't a clear and obvious error, 3:2."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • United v Ipswich, Sun 30 Aug, 55:55. Goal awarded. Handball appeal against Maguire (MUN). On-field decision: correct (4:1); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct (4:1). The referee was Craig Pawson.
    "Maguire's arms are within his bodyline meaning that the contact with his right arm was accidental and not a punishable handball offence given that Maguire was not the goal scorer. The shot was clearly off target and then deflected in via the defender for a clear own goal. The panel supported the referee's call to award the goal, 4:1, with one panellist considering the handball to be deliberate."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • United v Ipswich, Sun 30 Aug, 58:36. Penalty awarded. Challenge by Greaves (IPS) on Cunha (MUN). On-field decision: correct (5:0); no VAR intervention, which the panel found correct (5:0). The referee was Craig Pawson.
    "The on-field call of a penalty was unanimously supported. A clear foul by Greaves on Cunha as he ran through on goal with a correct yellow card for DOGSO as it was a genuine challenge for the ball."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • Villa v Arsenal, Mon 31 Aug, 53:43. Penalty awarded. Challenge by Maatsen (AVL) on Saka (ARS). On-field decision: incorrect, factually outside the area (0:5); VAR overturned the on-field decision, which the panel found correct (5:0). The referee was Jarred Gillett.
    "The VAR intervention to award a free kick instead of a penalty was unanimously supported with the foul occurring just outside the area."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • Villa v Arsenal, Mon 31 Aug, 90:00+07:27. Penalty not awarded. Challenge by Maatsen (AVL) on Guimaraes (ARS). On-field decision: incorrect, foul by Maatsen (0:5); no VAR intervention, which the panel found incorrect, clear and obvious error (0:5). The referee was Jarred Gillett.
    "The panel felt that a penalty should have been awarded on-field for Maatsen's reckless challenge on Guimaraes. Clear contact was made on the attacker's standing leg and Maatsen made no contact with the ball. They also felt that VAR should have intervened as the non-penalty award was a clear and obvious error."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 September 2026. Article, full table (PDF).
  • Villa v Arsenal, Mon 31 Aug, 90:00+07:28. Second caution not given. Challenge by Maatsen (AVL) on Guimaraes (ARS). On-field decision: incorrect (0:5); VAR not applicable. The referee was Jarred Gillett.
    "The panel felt that the challenge was reckless and therefore a second caution should have been awarded."Key Match Incidents panel, Match Round 2, published by the Premier League on 9 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.

Other matchweeks

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