The 2023/24 Premier League table without VAR

There are surely only so many apologies Howard Webb can dish out. He's starting to sound like Simon Cooper when he was throttled after Jay Cartwright had slandered a few bus users.

PGMOL's chief refereeing officer was keen to make a strong impression at the start of the 2023/24 season, but the Premier League's officials have quickly dashed Webb's initial hopes. The poor bloke was forced to explain a number of dubious decisions during the first month of action while Michael Owen monotonously queried the 2010 World Cup final referee.

Much of the controversy across the 2023/24 campaign has surrounded the video assistant referee (VAR). Brought in as a means of making life easier for the on-field officials, the complication of rules and apparent incompetence by those in charge of the technology means it simply hasn't brought about the greater precision many expected and desired.

Here's how the Premier League table would look if VAR was no more.

2023/24 Premier League table without VAR

Data correct as of 30 March 2024 (via The Sun and ESPN).

Aston Villa seemed to be the side hampered by the distant hands of VAR the most this season as for a while they could have been a place or two higher up.

While each contest would've played out differently, Villa were theoretically denied a goal that could have won three games they actually drew. Away to Bournemouth and Everton, Villa's travelling kit appeared on the wrong side of the virtual offside lines, seeing 'goals' for Diego Carlos and Alex Moreno chalked off. Leon Bailey also had a strike disallowed after VAR spotted a foul on Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham. Unsurprisingly, after that 1-1 draw with the division's basement dwellers, Unai Emery claimed there was "too much VAR" involved.

Things have evened out slightly and they would only have one point more without VAR than they do right now.

Liverpool have had their fair share of refereeing controversies this season and sit level on points with Arsenal in a non-VAR table. They are only behind the Gunners on goal difference.

The Reds have been on the end of numerous non-decisions which have left the Merseyside club utterly exasperated and PGMOL red-faced. The nation's refereeing governing body had to apologise for the "significant human error" which occurred when Luis Diaz's goal against Tottenham was wrongly ruled out for offside by the on-pitch assistant referee at the end of September. A fumbled miscommunication between the VAR officials ensured that the game - which Tottenham Hotspur eventually won 2-1 - remained goalless even though Diaz was clearly onside.

Manchester United have been on both sides of the fickle VAR fate. Somehow, the Red Devils escaped a late penalty decision against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend even though Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic. Supporters were aggrieved when VAR intervened to rule out Alejandro Garnacho's potential late winner at Arsenal, but the Gunners earlier had a penalty overturned after referee Anthony Taylor had a look at the pitchside monitor.

Erik ten Hag flapped his arms in disgust when Scott McTominay's opener against Fulham was chalked off for a subjective offside, lamenting to the fourth official: "So many times now." However, none of the VAR interventions against United have swayed the result, only the scoreline.

Brighton are actually unaffected by VAR this season in terms of points, but Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi made his view on all officials painfully clear after his Brighton side were held to a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in November. "I don't like 80% of English referees. It's not a new thing. I don't like them."

The nation's officials didn't exactly endear themselves to De Zerbi or his captain when Lewis Dunk had a brilliant volley disallowed for a narrow offside call against Everton, denying Brighton a goal that could have swung a match which ended 1-1.

When visiting Chelsea in December, Brighton lost 3-2 but had two second-half penalty decisions go against them. VAR first spotted a foul by James Milner on Mykhailo Mudryk, awarding a spot kick which Enzo Fernandez converted, before overturning a penalty for Brighton in the 11th minute of stoppage time. "I don't want to speak about the referee," De Zerbi sighed post-match.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has been all too happy to voice his forthright opinion on Premier League referees. Only Tottenham have had the same number of subjective decisions go against them as the Blades (5), although one of the on-pitch officials incited the wrath of Wilder after a 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace in January. Wilder wrote referee Tony Harrington off as "ridiculous" before turning towards his colleague. "One of his assistants was eating a sandwich at the time, which I thought was a complete lack of respect," Wilder seethed. "Hopefully, he enjoyed his sandwich while he was talking to a Premier League manager."

After yet more controversy in a rare victory for Sheffield United against Luton Town the following month, Wilder couldn't bring himself to analyse the contentious penalties won by both sides. "I didn't waste my energy and my time in terms of looking for it and deliberating it and picking the bones out of it," Wilder sighed. "I'll most probably pick the bones out of it tonight after I've had about six pints on the way home. But obviously, it'll be a little bit hazy."

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