A little-known rule helped Chelsea avoid defeat in their season opener.

18/08/2025 17:49:00 FieldFrenzy

In the opening match of the season between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, a controversial moment unfolded when Eberechi Eze’s first goal was ruled out.

This decision not only caught fans off guard, but also ignited debate over a rarely known football rule.

Chelsea’s highly disputed disallowed goal

In the 13th minute, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze produced a brilliant free kick, sending the ball over Chelsea’s wall and beating goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The stadium erupted in celebration, but Crystal Palace’s joy was quickly cut short as the referee, after consulting VAR, canceled the goal.

Many initially assumed the goal was disallowed because Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi pushed Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, helping Eze’s shot bypass the wall. However, that was not the true reason. The actual issue, according to the rules, was that Guehi was positioned too close to Chelsea’s wall before the ball was played.

Eberechi Eze’s opening goal was denied due to an obscure Premier League rule.

Rule 13 in the FA’s Laws of the Game clearly states: “When three or more defenders form a ‘wall’, all attacking players must remain at least 1 meter away from the ‘wall’ until the ball is in play.” In this instance, Marc Guehi broke the rule by standing less than 1 meter from Chelsea’s wall before Eze took his shot.

The Premier League organizers issued an official statement during the match via the Match Centre account on X, explaining the referee’s decision:

“After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision to award Crystal Palace’s goal. Reason: The away team’s number 6 was less than 1 meter from the wall when the free kick was taken. Therefore, this is an indirect free kick situation and the goal is disallowed.”

This decision sparked heated debate on social media, with many fans expressing disappointment and questioning the accuracy of the rule. One user wrote on X: “Using VAR like this is awful. How can you measure exactly 1 meter in every free kick scenario? Or is this just a random judgment? How can this be applied fairly in other matches?”

Another user sarcastically commented: “Amazing rule. This is exactly what football has needed for years. I’ve talked about it for years at the pub!” Another joked: “Is football now governed by rulers and measuring tapes?”

Following the controversial incident, Chelsea and Crystal Palace ended the match in a goalless draw. Eze’s disallowed goal became the hottest topic at Stamford Bridge. The decision not only helped Chelsea avoid conceding, but also brought attention to a little-known football rule, leaving fans both surprised and divided.

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