The Premier League is supposed to be the best league in the world. It’s the league with the biggest stars, the biggest money, and the biggest audience. But here’s the thing: for all the glitz and glamour, there’s one part of the EPL that is embarrassingly poor—its officiating. Week after week, referees and VAR leave fans and pundits shaking their heads. And honestly, I keep asking myself: why is it this bad?
Manchester United vs. Arsenal: A Perfect Example
Take the Manchester United vs. Arsenal game as an example. That match was littered with controversial moments—clear calls that changed the entire outcome—but the referee on the pitch missed them. And then came the bigger frustration: VAR did nothing. This is literally the reason VAR exists—to step in when the referee makes a glaring mistake. Instead, they just sat on their hands and ignored it.
I remember watching that game and pausing for a second, thinking, “What on earth is going on? How can both the referee and VAR get it so wrong?” It almost felt like they were afraid to use the technology properly.
Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: Same Story
And it’s not just one game. The opening match between Liverpool and Bournemouth also had questionable officiating. Again, VAR didn’t step in where it clearly should have. At this point, it’s hard not to feel like the system is broken—or worse, like they’re deliberately holding back from making the obvious calls.
I’m Not Alone in This
Now, I know this isn’t just me venting as a fan. Every week, pundits on TV point out these errors too. Former players, analysts, commentators—they all say the same thing. The refereeing in the Premier League is simply not good enough. And when so many people who’ve been in the game for decades are scratching their heads, you know the problem is serious.
The organization in charge of referees, PGMOL, sometimes apologizes after the fact. But apologies don’t change results. Fans are left frustrated, managers lose points, and players’ efforts go unrewarded. That’s not good enough for a league that prides itself as the best in the world.
A Decade of Watching, A Decade of Questions
I’ve been watching the Premier League consistently for close to a decade now. And I’ll be honest: sometimes it doesn’t feel like just incompetence—it feels like something more, almost like there’s a hidden agenda to influence how games turn out. I know that sounds like conspiracy talk, but when the same types of errors keep repeating themselves, you can’t help but wonder.
Even if it’s not intentional, the perception is damaging. Once fans start believing games are being influenced by poor officiating, the credibility of the league takes a huge hit.
Why Does VAR Work Elsewhere but Not in England?
Here’s another thing that makes this all even more baffling: VAR actually works in other places. We’ve seen it at the World Cup, the Champions League, and even the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). At AFCON, decisions were corrected quickly and effectively. Meanwhile, in England, VAR feels like it’s scared to do its job.
The excuse we often hear is that VAR should only step in for “clear and obvious errors.” But half the time, the errors are as clear and obvious as it gets! If AFCON can run VAR smoothly, why can’t the Premier League, with all its money and technology, do the same?
What’s Really Going On?
A few things could be at play here. First, there’s this culture in England where they don’t want VAR to “overrule” the referee on the pitch. But that completely defeats the purpose. Second, the process is painfully slow and overcomplicated. Instead of bringing clarity, it leaves fans even more confused. And finally, there’s the accountability problem—referees rarely face consequences when they mess up. Players and managers are criticised and punished all the time, but referees just carry on as if nothing happened.
What Needs to Change
For the Premier League to protect its reputation, something has to change. The refereeing body needs to be more transparent. Release the audio of referee-VAR conversations so fans can at least understand the thought process. Improve referee training. And most importantly, hold officials accountable when they get it wrong—just like players are dropped when they underperform.
Fans don’t expect perfection. We know football will always have its debates and controversies. But what we do expect is fairness, consistency, and the proper use of technology that’s already in place. Right now, we’re not getting that.
Until the Premier League fixes this mess, the conversation will keep being about referees and VAR instead of the football itself. And for a league that sells itself as the best in the world, that’s embarrassing.
