Eberechi Eze's Disallowed Goal Explained
Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze believed he had scored the opening goal in the first 15 minutes of their Premier League match against Chelsea with a well-placed free-kick.
However, VAR intervened, and the goal was disallowed, surprising many spectators.
Despite the initial disappointment, the decision was ultimately correct, as explained by the Ask Me Anything team.
The goal was annulled because a Crystal Palace player was positioned too close to the Chelsea wall during the free-kick.
Referee Darren England addressed the crowd to clarify the ruling, stating: "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."
According to Law 13 of the International Football Association Board, when three or more players from the defending team form a wall, all attacking players must remain at least one metre away from the wall until the ball is in play. This rule was implemented in the 2019-20 season.
The rationale behind this regulation was that attackers standing too close to the defensive wall during a free-kick can lead to management issues and time-wasting.
Furthermore, it was noted that there is no valid tactical reason for attackers to be positioned in the wall, as their presence can detract from the game’s integrity.
As a result, Eze's goal was disallowed.
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