Referee Explain To Fans Why Crystal Palace Goal Vs Chelsea Was Canceled

Referee Darren England Clarifies Decision to Disallow Eberechi Eze’s Goal Against Chelsea ⚽  

In a dramatic moment during Crystal Palace’s Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Eberechi Eze’s superbly struck free-kick appeared to hand the visitors an early lead. The ball sailed past the Chelsea wall and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, sparking celebrations among the Palace players and travelling supporters.  

However, the jubilation was short-lived. Following a VAR review, referee Darren England ruled the goal out — a decision that left many inside the stadium and watching from home puzzled.  

Under new Premier League protocols for the 2025/26 season, referees now provide in-stadium explanations for major VAR decisions. England addressed the crowd directly, stating:  

> “Away number 6 is less than one metre into the wall as the shot is taken. Therefore it’s an indirect free-kick and a disallowed goal.”  

The infringement referred to Palace defender Marc Guehi, who was deemed to have encroached within one metre of the Chelsea wall at the moment Eze struck the ball — a violation of Law 13 of the IFAB Laws of the Game.  

While some fans initially believed the decision was related to potential pushing or obstruction, England’s clarification confirmed that the ruling was based solely on the encroachment offence.  

The incident has reignited debate over the interpretation of free-kick laws and the role of VAR in such fine-margin decisions, with pundits and supporters divided over whether the call was overly strict or simply correct application of the rules.