Until this season, the average number of penalties per Premier League campaign was 88.
But with 36 awarded in 68 games already, we are due more than 200 in 2020-21. What has stood out when watching matches is that referees are having to make five or six big decisions a game.
When I was in the Premier League, I might have had to make one or two. So, what is behind this spike in spot-kicks?
VAR IS NOT MISSING ANYTHING
VAR was operating in the Premier League in 2019-20, when there were 92 penalties awarded.