UEFA releases VAR explanations for 2026/27 Champions League season

UEFA has released its official technical explanations for VAR decisions made during the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League season. The report details a series of overturned calls, including penalties, goals, and red cards, from matches played across September and October 2026.

"Official explanations of VAR decisions in the 2026/27 Champions League," UEFA said in a statement accompanying the report. The document provides clarity on key incidents that altered the course of several high-profile fixtures in the competition's new league phase.

Matchday controversies

A significant number of decisions were reversed following video review. On matchday three, a red card shown to a Lille player in the 57th minute on 8 September was overturned. That same day, a penalty was awarded to an Aston Villa player after a VAR check in the 61st minute, while a goal for AEK Athens was disallowed in the 67th.

The following matchday on 13 and 14 October saw a flurry of interventions. A penalty was awarded to a Leipzig player in the 19th minute, a goal for a Galatasaray player was ruled out in the 37th, and a red card for a Manchester United player was rescinded in the 75th minute. Later that week, a goal for a Roma player was given after review in the 59th minute, and a goal for a Porto player was disallowed in the 44th.

Further incidents from 21 October include a penalty awarded to a Viking player in the 37th minute and a goal given for the same team in the 87th, both following VAR intervention. Another penalty decision, this time not given to a Lille player in the 29th minute, was also confirmed by the video officials.

Bayern Munich's unbeaten run

One of the featured matches in the broader reporting context was Bayern Munich's 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena. This result kept the German side unbeaten in the Champions League this season, having taken five points from their first three league-phase matches. Harry Kane put Bayern ahead 2-1 with a 61st-minute penalty, but Declan Rice equalised for Arsenal in the 82nd minute. The Gunners' opening goal came from Eze in the 25th minute, assisted by Martin Ødegaard.

Bayern Munich's next Champions League fixture is away to Atlético Madrid on 3 November. Joshua Kimmich missed the Arsenal match due to a bereavement in his family, while Arsenal's Bukayo Saka was replaced by Eze following an injury.

In other European action noted in the available data, Manchester United set an unwanted record by conceding goals within the first two minutes in consecutive major European matches. Their opponents, Como, managed by Cesc Fàbregas, scored through Nico Paz in the second minute and Anastasios Douvikas shortly after half-time. The release of these VAR explanations aims to provide transparency for clubs and supporters as the Champions League group stage continues.

Read the full report at UEFA.com