The 2023/24 Premier League table would look very different if VAR didn’t exist.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were once again on the receiving end of some terrible refereeing decisions as they lost 3-2 at Fulham on Monday night, adding salt to the wound after a host of calls against them earlier this season. The failure of VAR to intervene has cost Wolves so often this campaign, prompting many to ask for its riddance.
VAR simply not existing wouldn’t exactly have helped Wanderers in many of their cases, however, as many of the poor decisions have failed to be overturned – rather than the other way around. The penalties handed to Luton Town, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and now Fulham, for instance, were mainly on-field decisions.
In fact, the second of Fulham’s penalties was actually the first case of Wolves seeing an original decision overturned all campaign long. Referee Michael Salisbury waved away the appeals from the Cottagers at first but was then asked to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. He then gave the penalty.
As a result of a relative lack of intervention, a Premier League table without VAR isn’t actually that transformative for Wolves. The standings with better use of the technology would likely favour Gary O’Neil’s side, but that’s not the argument many are making.
Different could be said for other teams, however, as many have had a different experience. Some have benefited and others frustrated by VAR overturns, while a few have seen things balance out. Here’s a look at how the Premier League table would look if VAR wasn’t in action this season.
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