A VAR error cost Brighton a penalty against Arsenal

Brighton He should have been awarded a penalty Loss 1-0 At home for Arsenal On March 4, the Premier League’s Major Match Incidents (KMI) committee said.

The Seagulls were trailing to a goal scored by Bukayo Saka in the ninth minute when they took the lead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

Following a cross from the left, Brighton midfielder Mats Weaver attempted to run into the penalty area towards the ball but was pulled to the ground by Gabriel Martinelli.

Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue and it was overruled by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury.

Fabian Horzler complained to fourth official David Webb and the Brighton coach ended up exchanging words with Mikel Arteta on the touchline.

The Premier League Match Center wrote on X that VAR “deemed that there was no clear and obvious foul”.

But the KMI panel voted 4:1 that the penalty should have been awarded on the pitch, and 3:2 that it was a missed VAR intervention.

The referee said: “Martinelli does not look at the ball, catches Weaver inside the area and prevents the Brighton player from challenging for the ball.”

This is the second time this season that Arsenal have evaded a VAR penalty in an away match which they won 1-0.

In December, Everton should have been awarded a penalty for William Saliba’s challenge on Thierno Barry. VAR was Michael Salisbury in that game too.

There have now been 18 VAR fouls recorded this season, matching the total for the entire 2024-25 season.

From the same week, Leeds United should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 home loss to Sunderland due to Luke O’Nien’s foul on Pascal Struijk.

The Gunners had no VAR fouls against them.