Explained: The Law Behind Eze’s Disallowed Goal vs Chelsea

Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze thought he had put his side ahead at Stamford Bridge with a superbly taken free-kick inside the opening quarter of an hour, only for VAR to rule the effort out, Sport360NG reports.

The decision sparked confusion among fans inside the ground, but referee Darren England clarified that the strike could not stand because a Palace player had infringed on Chelsea’s defensive wall.

England explained over the stadium microphone: “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 the goal is disallowed.”

According to Law 13 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), any attacking player must remain at least one metre away when three or more opposition players form a wall. The regulation, introduced ahead of the 2019/20 season, was designed to prevent attackers from disrupting defensive walls and to cut down on unnecessary delays.

The law’s original justification stated there was “no legitimate tactical reason” for attackers to join the wall, and that such behaviour often undermined the image of the game.

As a result, Eze’s early strike was wiped off, leaving Palace still searching for a breakthrough against Chelsea.