Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze thought he had given his side an early advantage at Stamford Bridge with a superbly taken free-kick in the opening 15 minutes of their Premier League clash against Chelsea.
The ball flew past Robert Sánchez and into the net, sparking celebrations among the travelling supporters. However, the joy was short-lived as referee Darren England, following a VAR review, disallowed the goal.
The decision initially surprised many inside the ground, but closer inspection revealed that it was the correct application of the laws of the game. A Palace player had positioned himself too close to the Chelsea defensive wall, breaching the one-metre distance rule introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in the 2019/20 season.
Explaining the verdict to the crowd, England announced: “After review, away number six is less than one metre away from the wall as the shot is taken. Therefore, it’s an indirect free-kick and a disallowed goal.” The incident served as a reminder of Law 13, which stipulates that when three or more defending players form a wall, all attackers must remain at least one metre away until the ball is in play. The law was added to prevent attacking sides from deliberately interfering with defensive walls or creating unfair blockages during set-piece situations.
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Eze, who has been a standout performer for Palace this season, was visibly frustrated by the ruling. His strike showcased the quality that has made him a key figure for Roy Hodgson’s team and a player linked with top clubs in recent transfer windows. Yet, despite his technical brilliance, the fine details of the law ultimately denied him what would have been a memorable opener.
For Palace, the disallowed goal highlighted the importance of discipline in set-piece routines, while for Chelsea, it was a timely reprieve in a tightly contested fixture. As VAR continues to play a pivotal role in modern football, moments like these underline how even marginal infractions can have a decisive impact on the outcome of a match.