Andy Davies, Special to ESPN

Apr 29, 2026, 07:19 PM ET

Video assistant referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League , but also in the UEFA Champions League . So, how are decisions made and are they correct? This season, we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons on the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has operated within the VAR space in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, rationale and protocols that are delivered on a Premier League matchday.

Atlético Madrid 1-1 Arsenal

Referee : Danny Makkelie

VAR : Dennis Higler

Time : 37 minutes

Incident : Penalty awarded to Arsenal

What happened : As Arsenal attacker Viktor Gyökeres neatly received the ball in the Atlético penalty area, defender Dávid Hancko appeared to…