“Palace Robbed by VAR’s Most Outrageous, Mind-Blowing Blunder in Spurs Showdown!”
Premier League Officials Criticised After Controversial Disallowed Goal in Palace’s Clash with Tottenham
Crystal Palace thought they had taken an early lead against Tottenham in North London, but Ismaila Sarr’s goal was ruled out following a VAR review.
The decision came after Jean-Philippe Mateta was deemed offside in the build-up to the move, sparking controversy and debate among fans and pundits.
Just eight minutes into the match, Mateta received the ball in what looked like his own half before linking up with Eberechi Eze.
Eze then found Daniel Munoz on the right flank, whose low cross was tapped in by Sarr at the back post. Initially, it appeared to be a perfectly executed goal.
However, VAR intervened, and after a review using the semi-automated offside system, the goal was disallowed.
While Mateta seemed to be in his own half when the ball was played, replays revealed that his shoulder was marginally beyond Tottenham defender Djed Spence, meaning he was officially offside—even though only his right arm was in Spurs’ territory.
The decision left many scratching their heads. talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham called it “absolutely ludicrous,” stating that the rule needs re-evaluation.
The Premier League’s Match Centre later offered clarification on social media, saying: “VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Mateta was in an offside position in the build-up and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”
Despite the early setback, Palace did eventually take the lead before halftime. Eze scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season, also adding to his tally of eight assists across 32 appearances.
His contributions continue to be crucial for Oliver Glasner’s side.
Palace currently sit 12th in the Premier League table with two matches remaining. While a European finish is unlikely via league position, the club still has hope of qualifying through the FA Cup.
They will face Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday, with the opportunity to not only secure a European spot but also win their first major trophy in 119 years.
