Little-Known Rule Causes Disallowed Goal for Eberechi Eze Against Chelsea

During a match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea, Eberechi Eze scored a stunning free-kick that was initially allowed but later disallowed after a VAR review. The reason behind the decision has now been clarified.

In the 13th minute, Eze struck a powerful shot past Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, successfully beating the Chelsea wall. The goal was originally awarded, but it was later overturned due to a violation involving Marc Guehi, a Palace defender.

The controversy centered on Guehi, who had pushed Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo to create space for the shot. However, the key issue was Guehi’s positioning before the kick. Law 13 of the FA rules states that all attacking players must remain at least 1 meter away from the defending wall until the ball is in play, especially when three or more defenders form the wall.

Referees reviewed the incident and decided Guehi had been too close to the wall — within the 1-meter limit — when the free-kick was taken. This breach led to the disallowance of Eze’s goal, transforming the situation into an indirect free-kick for Chelsea.

The decision sparked debate on social media, with fans expressing mixed feelings about the rule’s application. Some questioned how the measurements are enforced, while others sarcastically criticized the rule’s complexity.

Marc Guehi was within 1 meter of Chelsea’s wall before the kick, which is against the rules for attacking players.