VAR's Impact: Did Bournemouth Miss Champions League by a Whisker?
As the Premier League season reached its climax, Bournemouth found themselves on the brink of a historic Champions League qualification. However, they ultimately secured a spot in the Europa League as Liverpool held onto fifth place by just three points. The question looms: could Bournemouth have finished in the top four without the influence of VAR? Bournemouth could have potentially added four crucial points to their tally, which would have placed them above Liverpool in the standings. A detailed assessment by BBC Sport indicates that 29 games were significantly impacted by VAR decisions, highlighting how the timing and nature of these interventions can alter outcomes. Key examples include: A crucial VAR call disallowed a goal for Bournemouth in a 0-0 draw against Chelsea. An Evanilson effort was ruled offside in a match against Leeds, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Had these decisions gone in Bournemouth's favor, they would have concluded the season with 61 points, edging out Liverpool for the final Champions League spot. The impact of VAR did not stop there; other teams also felt the effects: Arsenal gained four points through VAR decisions, impacting the title race. Brighton would have secured a Europa League position if they hadn’t been adversely affected. Tottenham faced three crucial VAR calls that altered their season's trajectory, potentially relegating them to 15th place. Despite the controversies, Chelsea emerged as the club with the most favorable VAR interventions, whereas Everton suffered the most, failing to benefit from a single VAR call throughout the season. As the dust settles on this season, Bournemouth's VAR-related setbacks have sparked discussions about the system's role in shaping outcomes and the future of clubs vying for European competition.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-26