The Premier League has been rocked by another VAR storm after referee Michael Salisbury was suspended for the upcoming Liverpool vs Arsenal clash at Anfield, following a major officiating error that cost Fulham in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Fulham thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute at Stamford Bridge when Josh King slotted home, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review judged Rodrigo Muniz to have fouled Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah in the buildup. Salisbury, the video assistant referee on duty, flagged Muniz for stepping on Chalobah’s foot near the halfway line, leading to referee Robert Jones overturning the goal.
But within 48 hours, referees’ chief Howard Webb and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) admitted the decision was a mistake. Webb confirmed that the incident did not meet the threshold for a “clear and obvious error” and should never have been overturned by VAR. As a result, Salisbury has been dropped for this weekend’s marquee fixture between Liverpool and Arsenal, with John Brooks stepping in.
Fulham manager Marco Silva was furious after the match, calling the decision “unbelievable” and warning that VAR is overstepping its role. “To disallow a goal like that is simply unbelievable. VAR is not meant to re-referee the game,” Silva told TNT Sports, adding that he would hold back stronger words to avoid punishment. The result left Fulham without a win in their opening three Premier League matches.
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Chelsea capitalised on the reprieve by scoring their opener nine minutes into first-half stoppage time before sealing a 2-0 victory. The controversy has reignited debate about the role of VAR in English football, especially as this was Chelsea’s second consecutive home game where VAR dominated the storyline. Only a week earlier, Eberechi Eze’s stunning free-kick for Crystal Palace was disallowed after Marc Guehi was deemed to interfere with the wall.
The anger extended beyond Stamford Bridge. Burnley manager Scott Parker, whose team lost 3-2 to Manchester United after a stoppage-time penalty awarded by VAR, blasted the system for “making football the most sterile game there is.” His frustration followed referee Sam Barrott’s decision to overturn his original call after checking the monitor, ruling that Jaidon Anthony pulled Amad Diallo’s shirt in the box. Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot to hand United all three points.
With another high-profile officiating blunder now admitted by PGMOL, questions over VAR’s impact on the Premier League are intensifying. For many managers and fans, what was introduced to remove controversy is instead creating weekly flashpoints, casting shadows over the integrity of results in England’s top flight.
