Brighton denied penalty in Arsenal loss, Premier League admits error
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineBrighton & Hove Albion should have been awarded a penalty in their 1–0 defeat to Arsenal, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has confirmed.
The incident occurred in the closing moments of the first half on March 4, with Brighton pushing for an equaliser after Bukayo Saka’s early goal.
Midfielder Mats Wieffer was brought down in the box by Gabriel Martinelli following a cross, but referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue.
The decision was upheld after a review by VAR official Michael Salisbury.
The Premier League Match Centre later stated that VAR “deemed there was no clear and obvious error.”
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However, the KMI Panel ruled otherwise, voting 4-1 that a penalty should have been awarded on the field and 3-2 that VAR should have intervened.
The panel said: “Martinelli is not looking at the ball, holds Wieffer into the area, and prevents the Brighton player from challenging for the ball.”
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler had protested the decision during the match, exchanging words with fourth official David Webb and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
The incident marks the second time this season Arsenal have avoided a VAR-awarded penalty in a 1–0 away win.
In December, Everton were also denied a spot-kick following a challenge involving William Saliba.
The Premier League has now recorded 18 VAR errors this season, matching the total from the entire 2024/25 campaign.
In the same gameweek, Leeds United were also denied a penalty in their 1–0 home defeat to Sunderland after Luke O’Nien’s challenge on Pascal Struijk.
Arsenal remains without any VAR errors against them so far this season.
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