Chelsea escape early trouble as Crystal Palace’s stunning free-kick goal in the 12th minute gets officially DISALLOWED after a VAR check

With the score still locked at 0-0 as the match unfolds, the decision has sparked intense debate among fans and analysts, highlighting the ongoing contentious role of VAR in English football.

The incident, occurring in a tightly contested London derby, underscores the fine margins that could define the outcome of this eagerly anticipated clash between the FIFA Club World Cup champions and the FA Cup holders.

The match kicked off with Crystal Palace, fresh off their Community Shield triumph over Liverpool, showing early intent. Their high-pressing style, led by the dynamic duo of Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, put Chelsea’s defense under immediate pressure. In the 11th minute, Palace earned a free-kick in a dangerous position after a clumsy challenge by Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo on Ismaila Sarr just outside the penalty area.

Eze, renowned for his set-piece wizardry, stepped up and delivered a moment of magic—a curling, 25-yard strike that soared over the Chelsea wall and dipped past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez into the top corner. The away end erupted, believing Palace had seized an early lead in a match where they entered as +400 underdogs.

However, referee Darren England hesitated, signaling a VAR check as the celebrations were put on hold. The review, overseen by Video Assistant Referee James Bell, focused on a potential foul in the buildup, with replays showing Palace’s Will Hughes making slight contact with Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana in the penalty area as Eze struck the ball. After a tense two-minute delay, England overturned the goal, ruling that Hughes’ nudge constituted a foul, preventing Chelsea from falling behind.

The call left Palace players visibly frustrated, with manager Oliver Glasner gesturing animatedly on the sidelines, while Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca could be seen rallying his troops to capitalize on the reprieve.

The decision has ignited a firestorm of reactions. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, commentating live, labeled the call “overly pedantic,” arguing, “That’s a world-class free-kick from Eze, and the contact was negligible.

VAR is sucking the joy out of these moments.” Social media platforms, particularly X, buzzed with Palace fans decrying the decision, with one user posting, “Another game, another VAR robbery. Eze’s goal was pure quality—how is that a foul?” Chelsea supporters, conversely, defended the call, with one writing, “Rules are rules. Hughes pushed Fofana, and VAR got it right.”

The incident drew parallels to a previous controversy involving Eze, whose free-kick against Brentford in August 2024 was disallowed due to a referee’s premature whistle, though that decision did not involve VAR.

As the match progresses, Chelsea have struggled to assert dominance, with Palace’s compact defense, anchored by Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix, frustrating the Blues’ attacking trio of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens. Palace, meanwhile, continue to threaten on the counter, with Mateta testing Sánchez with a powerful header in the 20th minute.

Chelsea’s predicted lineup, featuring Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah in central defense due to injuries to Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile, has held firm but looked vulnerable to Palace’s pace. The absence of Nicolas Jackson, serving a suspension, has further limited Chelsea’s attacking options, placing added pressure on Pedro to deliver.

The disallowed goal has shifted the match’s narrative, with Palace appearing galvanized by the perceived injustice. Adam Wharton’s precise passing in midfield has created opportunities for Sarr and Eze, while Daniel Munoz’s overlapping runs have exploited gaps left by Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea, however, are beginning to find their rhythm, with Palmer nearly breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute after a clever dummy from Jadon Sancho, only for Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson to make a sharp save.

This early VAR controversy adds to the growing scrutiny of the technology in the 2025-26 Premier League season. The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) reported that VAR corrected over 100 errors last season, but incidents like this fuel arguments that it often overcomplicates decisions.

Former referee Keith Hackett, commenting on a separate VAR incident involving Arsenal and Palace, recently criticized inconsistent officiating, a sentiment echoed in today’s match.

As the game remains 0-0, both teams are poised for a breakthrough. Chelsea, favored at -160, will look to their midfield duo of Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez to control the tempo, while Palace’s attacking threats, particularly Eze and Mateta, aim to punish any defensive lapses.

The outcome of this match could hinge on whether Chelsea can convert their chances or if Palace can capitalize on their early momentum. For now, the disallowed free-kick remains the defining moment, a reminder of VAR’s polarizing impact and the razor-thin margins that shape the Premier League.