EPL: VAR Error Denies Brighton Penalty
Brighton and Hove Albion were wrongly denied a penalty in their 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal on March 4, according to the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel, adding to growing concerns about Video Assistant Referee consistency in the 2025-26 season.
The KMI Panel, which comprises former players and referees who independently review contentious decisions each matchweek, voted 4-1 that referee Chris Kavanagh should have awarded a spot kick to Brighton and 3-2 that VAR Michael Salisbury missed a clear intervention opportunity during the first-half stoppage time incident at the Amex Stadium.
The controversy occurred in the third minute of added time before halftime, with Brighton trailing to Bukayo Saka’s ninth-minute opener. After a cross from the left flank, Brighton midfielder Mats Wieffer surged into the penalty area toward the incoming ball but was pulled to the ground by Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli before he could challenge for possession.
Kavanagh waved play on, and Salisbury, operating as VAR at Stockley Park, determined that no clear and obvious error had been made, allowing Arsenal to maintain their slender advantage. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler protested vehemently to fourth official David Webb on the touchline and exchanged heated words with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as the teams headed to the tunnel at halftime.
According to the Premier League Match Centre’s explanation posted on X during the match, VAR “deemed there was no clear and obvious error” in Kavanagh’s decision not to award the penalty.
However, the KMI Panel’s subsequent review contradicted that assessment. The panel’s ruling stated that Martinelli’s actions constituted a clear foul that warranted a penalty kick.
“Martinelli is not looking at the ball, holds Wieffer into the area, and prevents the Brighton player from challenging for the ball,” the panel’s official verdict read.
The decision represents the second occasion this season that Arsenal have benefited from a controversial VAR non-intervention in a 1-0 away victory. In December 2025, Everton were denied a penalty when Arsenal defender William Saliba challenged Everton striker Thierno Barry inside the box during Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Goodison Park. That incident was also reviewed by VAR official Michael Salisbury, who cleared the challenge despite protests from Everton players and coaching staff.
The recurring pattern has intensified scrutiny of VAR decision-making and raised questions about consistency in applying the clear and obvious error threshold, particularly in matches involving top-six clubs. Arsenal have not had a single VAR mistake recorded against them throughout the current campaign, according to data compiled by the Premier League’s review panel.
The KMI Panel was established by the Premier League at the start of the 2024-25 season to provide transparent post-match assessments of controversial refereeing decisions. The five-member panel meets weekly to review incidents flagged as contentious, with verdicts published to increase accountability and public understanding of officiating standards. However, the panel’s conclusions do not result in match outcomes being changed or points redistributed.
VAR was introduced to the Premier League in the 2019-20 season with the stated objective of eliminating clear and obvious errors in critical match decisions involving goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. The technology has remained a source of debate, with criticism focused on inconsistent application, lengthy review times, and perceived reluctance to overturn on-field decisions.
The 2025-26 season has witnessed 18 logged VAR errors through March, already matching the total number recorded across the entire 2024-25 campaign, according to figures released by the Premier League. The increase has prompted calls from managers, players, and media analysts for systemic reforms, including semi-automated offside technology, audio transparency between referees and VAR officials, and clearer guidelines on intervention thresholds.
The same gameweek that featured the Brighton controversy also saw Leeds United denied a penalty in their 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland in the Championship. The KMI Panel ruled that Leeds defender Pascal Struijk should have been awarded a spot kick after being held by Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien during a set-piece situation, but referee and VAR officials allowed play to continue.
Brighton’s defeat to Arsenal left them in 10th position in the Premier League table with 39 points from 28 matches, while Arsenal moved to second place with 62 points, maintaining pressure on league leaders Manchester City. The result extended Brighton’s winless run to three matches and compounded frustration for Hurzeler, who has consistently voiced concerns about officiating standards since taking charge at the start of the season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta declined to comment extensively on the penalty appeal in his post-match press conference but acknowledged that decisions often balance out over the course of a season. Brighton’s Hurzeler was more forthright, describing the decision as “disappointing” but stopped short of directly criticizing match officials.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for elite refereeing standards in English football, has not issued a public response to the KMI Panel’s verdict. However, PGMOL typically reviews contentious decisions internally and provides feedback to officials as part of ongoing performance assessments.
The controversy has reignited broader debates about VAR’s impact on the flow and integrity of English football, with some stakeholders advocating for its removal while others call for technological and procedural improvements. FIFA and the International Football Association Board continue to monitor VAR implementation across leagues worldwide, with pilot programs for semi-automated systems being tested in major tournaments including the FIFA World Cup.
Brighton return to Premier League action this weekend when they travel to face Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in a fixture that could have significant implications for the title race.