Last updated on August 20, 2025
Join our WhatsApp community and be part of the conversation!
Eze’s free-kick goal was disallowed.
Image credit: Trollkickoff
Crystal Palace thought they had the perfect start at Stamford Bridge when Eberechi Eze rifled a free-kick past Robert Sánchez.
For a few seconds, the away end erupted in celebration — until VAR stepped in.
The goal was ruled out, leaving fans and pundits in disbelief.
So, what exactly happened, and was the decision fair?
💥 Love the Premier League? Stay Ahead of the Game – Join the Ultimate EPL Fan Newsletter!
Table of Contents
The Incident
Eze lined up a free kick early in the match, striking it beautifully into the top corner.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper Sánchez didn’t stand a chance.
But before Palace could enjoy the lead, VAR advised referee Darren England to check the monitor.
After review, the goal was overturned.
The reason? Palace captain Marc Guéhi was positioned too close to Chelsea’s defensive wall when the kick was taken.
🚨🏴 GOAL | Chelsea 0-1 Crystal Palace | Eberechi Eze
— Sportify360 (@Sportify360_) August 17, 2025
EBERECHI EZE OPENS THE SCORING FOR CRYSTAL PALACE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A FREE KICK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/r2eQUp7NVP
The Law Behind the Decision
This isn’t a matter of opinion — it’s written in the rulebook. Under Law 13 of the IFAB Laws of the Game:
“When three or more players form a wall, all attacking players must remain at least 1 metre away from the wall until the ball is in play.”
Guéhi was less than one metre away, meaning the set-piece broke the rule.
By law, the referee had no choice but to award Chelsea an indirect free kick and chalk off the goal.
Why Fans Are Upset
Even though the call was technically correct, it didn’t sit well with many supporters. Here’s why:
- Rarely enforced – This law exists but is almost never punished in Premier League games. Fans and even some commentators admitted they had forgotten it existed.
- Minimal impact – Guéhi’s positioning didn’t block Sánchez’s view or affect the strike. The ball flew in cleanly regardless.
- VAR drama – Goals being overturned for obscure technicalities feeds into the frustration about VAR sucking emotion out of the game.
Expert & Player Reactions
- TV pundits described the decision as “scandalous” and “harsh,” even while acknowledging the law was applied correctly.
- On social media, fans accused VAR of over-officiating, with many calling it “another example of the game losing common sense.”
For Palace, manager Oliver Glasner avoided a full rant but admitted the call was “tough to take” after such a brilliant strike.
The Bigger Picture
While the rule’s purpose is to prevent attackers disrupting walls or creating unfair blocks, moments like this highlight the grey area between letter of the law and spirit of the game.
Palace will feel robbed, and Eze especially was unfortunate — it was a goal of the highest quality that deserved to stand.
Yet referees will argue consistency: if the rule exists, it must be enforced.
Final Thought
Football thrives on goals, drama, and moments of brilliance.
When one of those moments is erased by a little-known technicality, the game feels poorer for it.
Yes, the officials followed the rulebook.
But in the court of fan opinion, this decision only fuels the sense that VAR is killing the joy of football.
