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The PGMOL has clarified why Eberechi Eze's strike for Crystal Palace against Premier League rival Chelsea was controversially disallowed.
Eze, 27, thundered home a free-kick beyond Robert Sanchez during the opening period at Stamford Bridge, appearing to give Palace a 1-0 advantage. However, a lengthy VAR review followed, and the goal was subsequently ruled out.
Officials at Stockley Park determined that Eagles center-half Marc Guehi, who is linked with a move to Liverpool, was less than one meter away from the Chelsea wall when the effort was struck. A statement from the Premier League's Match Centre account on X explained why the goal was disallowed.
The statement read: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Crystal Palace. Referee announcement: '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.'"
The regulation stipulates that until the ball is in play, all opponents must remain either at least 9.15M (10 yards) from the ball, unless they're on their own goal line between the goalposts, and outside the penalty area for free-kicks inside the opponents' penalty area.
Where three or more defenders form a wall, all attackers must remain at least 1m (1 yard) from the wall until the ball is in play.
Palace supporters chanted "it's not football anymore" upon confirmation that Eze's effort had been chalked off.
It contributes to a hectic few days for VAR during the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign, with an incident during Liverpool's 4-2 victory against Bournemouth also generating headlines.
Bernardo Cueva, Chelsea's set-piece coach, was spotted in a heated exchange with fourth official Michael Salisbury immediately after Eze's shot found the back of the net.
Cueva took issue with Guehi's action to push Moises Caicedo aside.
However, it wasn't the push that led to the goal being disallowed, but rather Guehi's position.
"This would be scandalous if it is ruled out," commented Chris Sutton on Sky Sports. "It seems extremely harsh."
Following the VAR controversy, Chelsea took control of the match, launching 11 attempts at Palace's goal. Only one hit the mark, however, and the teams entered half-time on equal footing.
The Blues returned to the pitch just over a month after their Club World Cup victory in the USA, leaving them time for only two pre-season friendlies.
On the other hand, Palace had recently triumphed over Liverpool in a penalty shootout to clinch the Community Shield last Sunday.
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