Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Premier League to Publish Weekly Referee and VAR Decision Reviews
The Premier League is the top soccer league in England.
Referees are the people who make sure players follow the rules during a game.
Sometimes a special helper called VAR helps referees check important decisions using video.
Now, a special group of five people will look at every big decision the referees make.
Their reviews will be shared with everyone, every week.
This is to make sure people trust that the decisions are fair.
For the first time, we will also hear what referees said and see video of important moments.
The new season starts this Friday.
Arsenal, the current champions, will play their first game against Coventry City.
The Premier League will publish findings from its independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel on a weekly basis.
The five-member panel reviews and votes on decisions made by referees and VAR during all major match incidents.
The league said the move aims to ensure full transparency around evaluations of decisions made by match officials.
Direct quotes from on-field officials and VAR in major incidents will be shared on Premier League Match Centre social media, along with in-game audio from referee cameras in select matches.
The 2026-27 Premier League season kicks off on Friday, with defending champions Arsenal facing promoted side Coventry City.
- Who
- The Premier League, its independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, match officials, and the sport's lawmakers IFAB.
- What
- The Premier League will publish weekly findings of its KMI Panel reviews of referee and VAR decisions and share official audio and quotes for the first time.
- When
- Announced on Tuesday, ahead of the 2026-27 season kicking off on Friday.
- Where
- England, in the Premier League, the English top flight.
- Why
- To ensure full transparency around the evaluations of decisions made by match officials.
- League
- Premier League (English top flight)
- Panel
- Independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel
- Panel membership
- Five members
- Panel established
- 2022-23 season
- New transparency measures
- Weekly publication of KMI findings, direct quotes from officials and VAR, and in-game referee audio from select matches
- Season kickoff
- Friday, 2026-27 season opener
- Defending champions
- Arsenal
- Promoted team facing Arsenal
- Coventry City