VAR is useless! The 10 worst decisions since technology was introduced to Premier League - ranked

Liverpool were particularly physical during their trip to Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round, but Fabinho overstepped the mark when he went in studs up on Evan Ferguson's ankle in the 89th minute.

The Brazilian's face told the story, as he sheepishly waited to be given his marching orders. Surprisingly, though, he only received a yellow - even after a lengthy VAR check. The PGMOL later admitted that an error had been made.

"What is happening to our game?!" That is what Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp felt moved to ask after watching Tomas Soucek get sent off deep into second-half stoppage time against Fulham in February 2021.

The incident was a strange one. Soucek and Aleksandar Mitrovic were involved in some very PG tussling ahead of a free-kick when the Czech midfielder accidently brushed his opponent's face with his elbow. Mitrovic promptly threw himself to the ground with all the believability of a primary school nativity.

Mike Dean, never one to shy away from a controversial decision, opted to send the West Ham player off and, unbelievably, VAR failed to send him to the screen. The fact that the dismissal occurred in the 97th minute of a goalless draw and was swiftly overturned just added to the farce.

Tottenham's 2-1 home win over Brighton in April 2023 was the highpoint of the Cristian Stellini era - which we admit is not saying much. Unfortunately for Antonio Conte's previous No.2, the best day of his short-lived time in charge was mired by major controversy.

Just before Harry Kane scored his side's winner, Kaoru Mitoma was blatantly tripped by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg inside the box. There was to be no penalty for Brighton, though, who had previously seen two goals ruled out by VAR to compound their misery.

Unfortunately for Roberto De Zerbi's side, the technology was not used to correct this clearly incorrect decision.

In the end, this one did not matter, with United hitting back in the second half to secure a 3-1 victory. But when they were heading down the tunnel at half-time, trailing by a goal, the Red Devils would have been fuming that Edinson Cavani's perfectly-good strike was ruled out by VAR.

In the build-up to the Uruguayan's clinical finish, Scott McTominay's arm flicked the face of Son Heung-min while the United man was driving away from the South Korean. It was both accidental and not enough for Son to collapse in a heap to the floor, but that did not stop the technology getting involved and disallowing the goal.

After the match, Roy Keane was typically composed in his assessment, urging his fellow pundits "all go home" if McTominay's infraction is now considered a foul.

Chelsea only won 11 games during the 2022-23 Premier League season, but if VAR had done its job they would have only barely scraped into double figures.

The Blues were 2-1 up at home to West Ham in September when Maxwel Cornet seemingly drew the Hammers level late on. However, following a VAR check, the Ivorian's goal was inexplicably ruled out for a 'foul' on Edouard Mendy by Jarrod Bowen. The decision was softer than memory foam and David Moyes was fuming after the game, accusing Andy Madley of "weak refereeing".

"There’s no excuse for VAR today, there is no excuse for that to be a goal, none whatsoever," Moyes added.

Brighton had not beaten their bitter rivals Palace in six previous meetings heading into their trip to Selhurst Park in February 2023. And that streak would've ended if VAR John Brooks had been on the ball.

After Pervis Estupinan curled one home in the first half, the technology spotted that the Ecuadorian was offside, so the goal was chalked off. However, as it turned out, Brooks had drawn the lines from the wrong defender, with Estupinan actually being comfortably onside.

The battle for the European places was fierce that season and this error dealt the Seagulls a significant blow, as well as denying their supporters bragging rights.

To get a result against a team as merciless as Man City you need to have everything go in your favour. And Everton certainly did not back in February 2022, with Rodri getting away with a blatant handball in his own penalty area.

In a moment of madness, the Spaniard controlled the ball with his arm, but VAR somehow reached the conclusion that the referee failing to award the Toffees a spot kick did not constitute a clear and obvious error.

City would go on to triumph 1-0, with Everton boss Frank Lampard left seething at full-time. Lampard accused VAR official Chris Kavanagh of being a "professional who cannot do his job right", with the club eventually receiving an apology from then-refereeing chief Mike Riley.

As Louis van Gaal so delicately put it back in 2016: "Every human being who is grabbed by the hair, only with sex masochism, then it is allowed but not in other situation."

In plain English, this translates to 'hair pulling isn't allowed on the football pitch', but Van Gaal's words of warning didn't stop Cristian Romero grabbing a handful of Marc Cucurella's free-flowing locks in the dying moments of Chelsea's clash with Tottenham at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, with the move eventually ending in Harry Kane netting a late equaliser.

Bizarrely, VAR didn't spot the Spurs defender's clear infraction when reviewing the goal, robbing the Blues of two points against their bitterest rivals. Mike Dean was responsible for the decision and he reflected: "It goes to show that no matter how experienced you are, and I’ve spent more than two decades as a Premier League official, you are always learning." We're sure that made Thomas Tuchel feel much better!

The scoreline showed a United victory, but Wolves were mightily impressive at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of 2023-24 and deserved at least a point. Gary O'Neil's frustration at coming away empty-handed would have only been heightened when he reflected on how the game finished.

At the death, Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic was absolutely clattered by Andre Onana as he attempted to collect a cross. It would have been classed as assault if it happened away from the football pitch, but referee Simon Hooper was unmoved - and VAR Michael Salisbury shockingly opted against sending him to the screen.

After the game, PGMOL sent a grovelling apology to O'Neil and Co, but it was little solace to a team that look like they're going to need every point they can get this season.

Every Premier League goal is checked by VAR before being given the green light - except this one, apparently. Lee Mason was so focussed on deciding whether Ethan Pinnock had been interfering with play a few seconds prior, he forgot to draw the lines for the goal itself.

And, on closer inspection, it soon became clear that Christian Norgaard - who set up Ivan Toney's leveller against Arsenal - had been offside. The clanger came at a vital time in the title race and the PGMOL issued an apology to Mikel Arteta - which the Gunners boss did not seem to accept.

"I will only be satisfied if they give me the two points back," he said. Fair enough.