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EPL: Why VAR Cancelled Eze's Free-Kick Goal Against Chelsea

Eberechi Eze scored a powerful free-kick for Crystal Palace against Chelsea on August 17, 2025, at Stamford Bridge, but the goal was disallowed by VAR.
VAR intervened because defender Marc Guehi was positioned too close to the Chelsea defensive wall at the moment the free-kick was executed, violating the required minimum distance.
The referee Darren England confirmed the infringement to the crowd, explaining the goal was disallowed as an indirect free kick due to Guehi's position near the wall.
Sky Sports commentator Chris Sutton called the decision 'scandalous', while Micah Richards acknowledged the rule was applied correctly despite VAR being seen as 'anti-goals'.
The disallowed goal sparked debate about VAR's role and highlighted the need for attacking teams to consider this rule carefully in future matches.

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Evening Standard

Center

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46 minutes ago·London, United Kingdom

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Telegrafi

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Chelsea and Crystal Palace Share Points in a Match Where a Super Goal Was Disallowed

Chelsea and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw in their Premier League opener. It was Crystal Palace who actually scored, with a free kick from 17 yards out, which Eberechi Eze converted into the corner of the net. Palace's celebration was short-lived, however. The game was stopped for nearly three minutes for a VAR review, with referee Darren England called in to review the footage himself. After reviewing the footage, he ruled that the …

1 hour ago

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The Telegraph

Lean Right

Eberechi Eze goal ruled out by VAR but not for the reason you think

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1 hour ago·London, United Kingdom

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Daily Express

Lean Right

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The Independent

Lean Left

Why was Eberechi Eze’s thumping free-kick disallowed against Chelsea?

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2 hours ago·London, United Kingdom

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Daily Post Nigeria

Center

EPL: Why VAR cancelled Eze's free-kick goal against Chelsea

Details of why the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, recommended the cancellation of Eberechi Eze’s goal against Crystal Palace have emerged. Eze thought he had given Crystal Palace the lead after he fired a free-kick past Robert Sanchez. However, his team-mate Marc Guehi was adjudged to have shoved Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, as the kick was being taken. A tweet from the Premier League Match Centre read: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the …

2 hours ago·Nigeria

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