How Wolves’ 2023/24 Premier League season may have been different if VAR did not exist.
VAR has been a highly controversial part of Wolves season so far. The officials at Stockley Park have made, at times, some baffling decisions that have cost Gary O’Neil’s side multiple times.
On the weekend, Wolves felt highly aggrieved when VAR ruled out a Max Kilman stoppage-time equaliser against West Ham. This resulted in widespread criticism from the footballing world as well as the Molineux team.
Calls for the abolishment of the system have never been louder from the Wolves fanbase after it pretty much ended their season with European hopes all but gone.
However, would the absence of VAR change Wolves’ season?
Here, this article highlights how the Premier League table would be different if VAR was not used in the 2023/24 season.
Read more: Wolves’ worst-ever VAR decisions.
Little changes for Wolves without VAR
VAR has widely been seen as against Wolves this season. The ruling out of Kilman’s goal was the final straw for many with few improvements made over its near four-year run.
However, new evidence has suggested that this is unfounded. Manchester World have developed a table on the Premier League if VAR did not exist.
| Position | Team | Points without VAR | Difference |
| 1st | Arsenal | 71 | 0 |
| 2nd | Liverpool | 70 | -1 |
| 3rd | Manchester City | 70 | 0 |
| 4th | Tottenham | 62 | +2 |
| 5th | Aston Villa | 61 | +1 |
| 6th | Manchester United | 50 | +1 |
| 7th | West Ham | 50 | +2 |
| 8th | Newcastle | 48 | +2 |
| 9th | Brighton | 43 | 0 |
| 10th | Wolves | 43 | +1 |
| 11th | Bournemouth | 43 | +2 |
| 12th | Chelsea | 41 | -3 |
| 13th | Fulham | 36 | -3 |
| 14th | Crystal Palace | 30 | 0 |
| 15th | Brentford | 29 | 0 |
| 16th | Luton | 26 | +1 |
| 17th | Everton | 24 | -2 |
| 18th | Nottingham Forest | 21 | -1 |
| 19th | Burnley | 19 | +1 |
| 20th | Sheffield United | 17 | +1 |
As seen by the results, Wolves’ season has barely changed. The club would have moved up one position but have actually gained one point thanks to the system.
In comparison, teams such as Chelsea and Fulham would have both lost three points if VAR did not exist.
Wolves should still be higher in the Premier League
While the table suggests that Wolves and VAR actually have a positive relationship, that could not be further from the truth.
A big issue this table misses are the times the system has failed to overturn a blatant error from the on-field officials. This has plagued Wolves’ season from day one.
On the opening day of the season, VAR failed to award Wolves a penalty after Man United ‘keeper Andre Onana clattered Sasa Kalajdzic without winning the ball. The on-field referee failed to notice the clash, however, VAR’s decision to uphold the verdict was unanimously condemned.
Similar occurrences have happened throughout the campaign such as Newcastle’s and Fulham’s penalties which the system also failed to overturn.
This, combined with the long and impractical waiting times for checks to be made will make few fans change their mind about VAR.