Mike Riley has pleaded with fans to give VAR more time after it was revealed video officials incorrectly overturned four key decisions that the on-field referee had got correct, including Arsenal's disallowed winner against Crystal Palace.

Arsenal defender Sokratis saw his late goal awarded by referee Martin Atkinson at the Emirates only for VAR to rule it out with the resulting draw last month piling more presure on Gunners boss Unai Emery.

At meetings with Premier League managers and shareholders it is understood the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), headed by Riley, felt that the goal should have stood as one of four occasions this season when the VAR should not have intervened.

Arsenal defender Sokratis saw his late goal ruled out by VAR against Crystal Palace

The other VAR mistakes included Everton defender Michael Keane's slight step on Brighton striker Aaron Connolly which was let go by the referee but was overturned and a spot-kick rewarded on review. Everton and their under-fire manager Marco Silva went on to lose the game 3-2.

Two more similar incidents occurred when Manchester United's Daniel James went down under a challenge from Norwich defender Ben Godfrey, while Watford forward Gerard Deulofeu did the same under minimal contact by Chelsea midfielder Jorginho.

Both were waved away by the on-field referee. Both were overturned by VAR and penalties. Despite being subjective calls, it is understood PGMOL now feel they should not have been overturned.

Watford forward Gerard Deulofeu went down under minimal contact against Chelsea

'The worst outcome is when the referee on the field makes right decision and the VAR intervenes to make wrong decision,' said Riley.

'It will happen. That is part of the balance of understanding what is clear and obvious.

'Look at any country that has put in VAR, everyone has to go through a learning curve. We are going through that now.'

Referees' chief Mike Riley has pleaded with football fans to give VAR more time

Those mistakes do not include other incidents where PGMOL feel the VAR should have intervened by did not, such as twice during Tottenham's draw with Watford in October where Jan Vertonghen fouled Deulofeu inside the box but was not given while Dele Alli's goal should have been ruled out for handball.

Riley, though, insisted that over the first 11 weeks of the season 91 per cent of key match incidents had been ruled correctly, compared to 84 per cent had VAR not been in use.

'Let's not look at what might have happened so far. Let's take all these learnings and go how do we improve the system going forward because we've all got a stake in making sure that happens.'

Riley and the PGMOL have agreed to add extra information to in-stadium VAR graphics to help improve the dismal fan experience but are hamstring by lawmakers IFAB's rules that forbid the broadcasting of communications between referees and the VAR.