The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel has confirmed that both Fulham and Wolves were on the receiving end of wrong VAR calls during the latest round of fixtures.
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Two crucial incidents — each with the potential to change the outcome of their matches — have now been officially ruled as mistakes.
Fulham’s Goal Wrongly Disallowed Against Chelsea
Fulham were left frustrated after Josh King’s first-half strike against Chelsea was controversially disallowed following a lengthy VAR check.
The decision ultimately shaped the game as Chelsea went on to secure a 2-0 win.
According to Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, the ruling was a “misjudgement.” The Key Match Incidents panel agreed unanimously that the goal should have stood.
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The incident occurred in the 22nd minute when King finished confidently, but the strike was chalked off for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah in the buildup. The report stated:
“The panel unanimously supported the original on-field call to allow play to continue and award the goal.”
Chelsea took full advantage, with Joao Pedro scoring from a header and Enzo Fernandez converting a penalty. Fulham remain winless after three matches, with manager Marco Silva voicing his anger:
“How you disallow a goal like that is unbelievable. VAR is not here to re-referee the game.”
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Wolves Denied a Penalty Against Everton
Wolves also suffered disappointment in their 3-2 defeat to Everton when the panel confirmed they should have been awarded a penalty.
Hugo Bueno was fouled inside the box by Iliman Ndiaye, yet VAR official Craig Pawson chose not to intervene.
Three out of five panel members later judged this as a “clear and obvious error,” meaning a penalty should have been given.
The missed call proved costly as Wolves left Goodison Park without a point and remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
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Rising Scrutiny Over VAR
These latest mistakes have fueled ongoing scrutiny of VAR’s role in English football. Referee Michael Salisbury was stood down from officiating duties the day after his involvement in the Fulham incident.
The panel also revealed that last season saw 18 VAR mistakes, most of them due to missed interventions.
For clubs like Fulham and Wolves, who are battling for crucial points early in the season, these errors are especially damaging. Instead of eliminating controversy, the technology continues to create fresh frustration.
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