In the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Chelsea, fans were left scratching their heads after Eberechi Eze’s brilliant free-kick goal was ruled out.
The English midfielder, who has Nigerian heritage and plays for Crystal Palace, curled a stunning shot into the net early in the game, but the referee quickly reversed the decision after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.
Here’s what happened in easy terms: Chelsea set up a defensive “wall” with three or more players to block the free-kick.
According to football’s official rules, no player from the attacking team (like Crystal Palace) is allowed to stand closer than 1 meter, about the length of a yardstick, to that wall until the ball is actually kicked and in play. This rule helps keep things fair by stopping attackers from distracting or blocking the defenders too closely.
In this case, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was spotted too near Chelsea’s wall when Eze took the shot. The referee reviewed the play on the pitch-side monitor and decided it broke the rule, turning the goal into an indirect free-kick for Chelsea instead. No goal for Palace, and the moment sparked heated debates among players and supporters about refereeing in the league.
This isn’t the first time Eze has faced such bad luck; he had a similar free-kick chalked off last season against Brentford for a different reason. But rules like this, found in Law 13 of the game’s handbook, are there to maintain order during set pieces and avoid chaos. While frustrating for Palace fans, it shows how small details can change a match’s flow.
Eze, a talented star often linked with big clubs, will hope for better fortune in upcoming games. For now, this incident reminds everyone: in football, following the fine print matters!
