How has VAR impacted AFC Bournemouth this season

Fans have grown both used to and weary to the interventions from Stockley Park since VAR was first introduced at the start of 2019-20 season.

Cherries fans will not need reminding that they endured one of the most confusing quirks of the system during its debut season, with a goal away at Burnley ruled out and a penalty awarded to the Clarets instead.

• Premier League clubs set for summer vote on whether to scrap VAR

Teething issues have persisted in the years since, with Wolverhampton Wanderers leading the charge for the system to be scrapped after enduring what they perceive to be too many injustices this campaign.

All clubs will feel hard done by refereeing decisions over the course of the season, with Cherries no exception – head coach Andoni Iraola recently stated how he felt that no decisions have gone his side’s way since they secured Premier League survival.

We have taken a look at all the times a full VAR check was made during Cherries’ Premier League fixtures – and a few decisions that escaped the oversight of the video assistants.

It must be said that even if fans – and journalists – are not made aware inside the ground, VAR does check major decisions such as penalties and red cards in the background.

Liverpool (A)

It was a busy afternoon on Merseyside for VAR in Cherries’ second game of the season.

Straight from kick-off a check was required, with Cherries’ opener chalked off for offside.

A long-searching ball over the top caused havoc, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s interception only serving to wrongfoot his goalkeeper and allow Jaidon Anthony an easy tap in.

However, Anthony was offside from the initial ball – and must have been deemed to have interfered with play despite the defender intentionally playing the ball.

Cherries felt aggrieved by the penalty awarded later on in the first half, with Joe Rothwell’s clumsy challenge on Domonik Szoboszlai inside the area punished.

Although soft, the subjective decision by the referee was not clear and obvious, and as such there was no encouragement for the match official to go to the screen.

The decisions were not just going against Cherries. Alexis Mac Allister’s challenge on Ryan Christie earned the Liverpool midfielder a red card, which was subsequently overturned after by an appeal.

Despite the error being admitted post-match, a VAR check did not overturn the on-field decision during the game.

Tottenham Hotspur (H)

There were two VAR checks in the space of two minutes during Cherries’ 2-0 defeat at home to Spurs, both for off-the-ball incidents.

Firstly, Dominic Solanke was investigated after his elbow innocuously caught Micky Van de Ven, leading to no punishment.

Spurs’ Ivan Perisic did see yellow for his push on Max Aarons that caught the Cherries defender in the face, with VAR taking a look to see if it met the threshold for violent conduct. However, it was deemed unworthy of an upgrade to a red card.

Wolves (H)

Further handbags at Vitality Stadium were checked by VAR, with the on-field decision standing once again.

There could be little complaints when Lewis Cook saw red for a headbutt on Hwang Hee-Chan, and VAR saw no reason to overturn the decision.

Burnley (H)

Victory over Burnley marked a turning point in Cherries’ season, so how fitting that there were two sliding door moments via VAR.

Antoine Semenyo’s equaliser was briefly checked for a potential foul in the build-up, but the goal stood.

Fans have probably forgotten that check, but they certainly will not have forgotten the lengthy wait to determine whether Jay Rodriguez’s potential last-minute equaliser was legitimate or not.

At the time, it was the longest VAR check in Premier League history, with confusion in the press box as the replays shown flicked between the goal being given and ruled out.

Eventually, it was determined that Rodriguez was offside – and Cherries were victorious in the Premier League for the first time under Iraola.

Manchester City (A)

There were two VAR checks during Cherries’ 6-1 defeat at reigning champions Manchester City, both on offside decisions.

Ryan Christie was deemed to have been in an offside position before setting up Solanke shortly after the break, with the Bournemouth goal ruled out.

Cherries would get their consolation goal late on, Luis Sinisterra opening his account for the club. This VAR check was brief as ex-Cherry Nathan Ake clearly played the Colombian onside.

Whilst offsides are currently checked by VAR, next season the Premier League will operate with semi-automated offside technology to improve the efficiency over offside calls.

Newcastle United (H)

Again, there was two VAR checks in Cherries’ key win over Newcastle United – this time for handballs.

Solanke’s 73rd minute strike that doubled Cherries’ lead was briefly glanced at for a potential handball, but there was no fault found with the goal.

Later on Cherries believed they should have had a penalty when Anthony Gordon appeared to handle inside the area, but a VAR check did not agree.

Sheffield United (A)

This was a real streak of VAR checks. Marcos Senesi’s barge on Auston Trusty inside the Cherries area was investigated for a potential foul; passing without intervention.

In the second period, there was another pause as VAR looked at Philip Billing’s tussle with Oli McBurnie.

Booked for his part in a melee, Billing appeared to grab McBurnie’s neck – but VAR felt that the Dane’s action was not violent misconduct, so no red was shown.

Aston Villa (H)

After cancelling out Semenyo’s opener, Villa thought they had taken the lead at Dean Court through Diego Carlos.

However, a VAR check showed the Lucas Digne, who set up the goal, was in an offside position – leading to it being chalked off.

Manchester United (A)

After an apparent day off during Cherries’ 2-0 win at Crystal Palace, VAR popped back up in the closing stages of Bournemouth’s famous win at Old Trafford.

Already 3-0 up, Dango Ouattara thought he had opened his account for the season in stoppage time.

However, a VAR check showed that the ball had bounced off the Burkinabe’s arm, causing the goal to be ruled out.

Nottingham Forest (A)

There was a VAR check in this game, but the most controversial decision during the 90 minutes fell outside the remit of the video assistants.

Willy Boly saw red for a challenge on Adam Smith that saw the Forest defender win the ball. But because he was shown a second yellow, VAR could not intervene.

Smith was involved in the following VAR check – the Cherries right back appearing to block a cross with his arm.

VAR was unable to ascertain whether the incident had happened inside the box or not, so nothing was given.

Tottenham Hotspur (A)

With Cherries trailing 3-1 in stoppage time in north London, the away side thought they had halved the deficit in stoppage time.

Hopes of a comeback were dashed, however, when a VAR check showed that goalscorer Alex Scott was offside when heading home Marcus Tavernier’s cross.

Liverpool (H)

There were two checks but no interventions during Cherries’ 4-0 loss to Liverpool.

Justin Kluivert escaped punishment after catching Luis Diaz on the ankle, whilst Diogo Jota did not receive the penalty he wanted under pressure from Lewis Cook and Illia Zabarnyi.

West Ham (A)

In this game, VAR giveth, and VAR taketh away from Cherries.

Solanke’s early opener was briefly ruled out at the London Stadium, but a VAR check highlighted that the final touch had come off a West Ham defender, thus playing Solanke onside.

But West Ham would be given a chance to equalise from the 12-yards after VAR determined that Lloyd Kelly’s challenge on Mohammed Kudus was worthy of a penalty.

Newcastle United (A)

This was one of the most contentious decisions provided by VAR this season. A lengthy VAR check determined that although Fabian Schar was in an offside position, Smith’s sustained shirt pull on the Newcastle defender qualified for a penalty kick.

After sending the referee over to the screen, a penalty was awarded.

Burnley (A)

VAR once again took a back seat here, looking at but not intervening over two penalty shouts for Burnley. 

Kluivert survived another check regarding a heavy challenge; the Dutchman’s original punishment of a yellow card not upgraded to a red.

Sheffield United (H)

Minutes after Cherries found themselves 2-0 down, Solanke thought had reduced the deficit at Vitality Stadium against the Blades. However, replays showed that just before scoring the ball hit the striker’s arm – causing it to be ruled out.

Luton Town (H)

Cherries’ comeback from the dead was kickstarted by Solanke’s 50th minute goal – which had to be checked, with provider Chris Mepham close to being offside.

Crystal Palace (H)

VAR was called into action towards the end of both halves in this one. Palace thought they had snatched a lead on the cusp of half-time, but Eberechi Eze’s potential opener was ruled offside, Jean-Philippe Mateta the infringing player.

Late on Jeffrey Schlupp went down inside the area, but the referee – nor VAR - felt there was not enough for a penalty.

Manchester United (H)

Bournemouth were left very aggrieved after their 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Firstly, Cherries were punished by a handball on Smith – with VAR approving the on field decision of a penalty.

Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola could not understand why Cherries were denied a penalty late on against the Red Devils.

Christie was bodychecked by Manchester United’s Willy Kambwala on the edge of the box, before being held as he advanced into the area.

Originally a penalty was awarded, but a VAR check caused the decision to be overturned.

Aston Villa (A)

There were two penalty shouts for Cherries in this game. Aston Villa’s Digne appeared to handle inside the area, but despite a lengthy VAR check, there was no penalty awarded.

Cherries would open scores from the spot later on, but end up losing 3-1 at Villa Park.

Wolves (A)

Another busy evening for VAR, with two Wolves goals ruled out and a red card checked.

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil outright refused to comment on the decision to chalk off Wolves’ first potential goal for a foul in the build-up, Matheus Cunha catching Kluivert off the ball.

That was a subjective decision, but the check to rule out an equaliser in stoppage time had no complaints, with Max Kilman clearly offside.

In between the two goals, Milos Kerkez saw red – VAR had a look, but did not overturn the decision.

Arsenal (A)

• Iraola calls for VAR 'rethink' after Cherries left hard done by decisions at Arsenal

There were two big calls that left Cherries fuming after defeat to Arsenal.

Firstly, Kai Havertz slyly stuck out a leg to earn a penalty, with VAR spending ages before deciding to uphold the on-field decision.

In the second period, Semenyo appeared to have pulled a goal back – only for a VAR check to determine that Solanke had apparently fouled Arsenal goalie David Raya.

During the same incident, Iraola felt that Billing had been fouled, and that if the goal was ruled out, Cherries should have had a penalty.

On the other hand, Christie was perhaps lucky to miss punishment for a studs-up challenge that left its mark on Bukayo Saka, with VAR not asking the referee to take another look.

Brentford (H)

These decisions are still fresh in the memory for Cherries supporters who saw two goals ruled out for their side.

• Iraola accuses Toney and Havertz of both ‘diving’ to win penalties against Cherries

VAR overturned the first, deeming Semenyo to have handled in the build-up up to Solanke scoring.

Iraola would be booked for his protestations over the decision, before Solanke had the ball in the back of the net again.

However, a soft foul saw the whistle blown before the ball crossed the line, preventing a VAR check.

In the second half Brentford were awarded a penalty when Ivan Toney went down easily inside the box, but after a VAR-prompted trip to the screen, the referee overturned the decision.

Do you think VAR should be scrapped? Have Cherries been hard done by this season? Let us know in the comments.