In a closely contested London derby between Chelsea and Crystal Palace, Eberechi Eze produced an absolute peach of a free-kick. Their equalising goal was ruled out as Marc Guehi was offside. That scene unfolded during a football game on a recent Saturday afternoon. Most notably, it has ignited new conversations around adhering to IFAB Laws of the Game, with an emphasis on player placement during set pieces.
The missed moment came when Guehi forced Moises Caicedo into a clearance that set up the opening for Eze’s shot. Guehi basically replaced the Chelsea wall for the free-kick attempt. Therefore, the indirect free-kick was declared null. Yet according to the IFAB Laws for the 2025/26 season, every attacking player must maintain a distance of at least one meter from the defensive wall. They need to keep this separation until the ball has been put into play. In Guehi’s case, his positioning, only a meter or so from the wall, meant the goal was disallowed.
The Role of VAR and Referee’s Decision
The still belatedly became such a concern when VAR – controlled from afar by the infamous James Bell – caught Guehi’s foul in real-time action. After this, match official Darren England provided an interesting case by going to the pitch side monitor. After watching the video evidence, Fowler upheld Eze’s goal being ruled out. This incident has opened up a dialogue on whether VAR is truly effective to even enforce compliance with clearly defined rules.
Crystal Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner, said that he was disappointed by the decision but noted that rules must be respected. He highlighted that players must be aware of their positioning during set pieces to prevent similar incidents in future matches.
Many hardcore FIFA fans and soccer analysts ardently defend bringing VAR into the game to help make the game fair. To others, the enforcement of rigid rules can be detrimental to the natural flow of the game. Former player Roy Keane voiced concerns regarding teams’ understanding of these specific regulations, indicating that increased awareness could help avoid similar situations.
Historical Context and Recent Comparisons
This troubling incident is not an isolated case. A scandal of the same ilk occurred last season when Chelsea players Marc Cucurella, Tosin and Reece James stood over a free-kick against Bournemouth. In that game, James knocked in an important equalizer in the 95th minute. His dubious arrangement made his integrity a concern to both referees and fans. This through line across these stories implies teams are testing the limits of these rules and using them to take advantage.
The number of Premier League matches on TV this season has increased the prominence of such incidents. Sky Sports will show at least 215 live games exclusively this season. That staggering figure represents 80 percent of all matches broadcast on television. This expansion from 128 matches last season highlights a growing viewership interest in the intricacies of each game, including referee decisions and rule enforcement.
Implications for Teams and Players
As teams learn adapt to these new rules, they will need to make sure players are well trained on what their positioning should be like in set pieces. The disallowed goal serves as a reminder that IFAB rules are there to be adhered to. Compliance is key to avoiding the jail during those game-changing moments of a match. Teams will have to do a better job in training to ensure these sessions include detailed outlines of set-piece plans and player duties likely reoccurring on them.
The Premier League is changing before our eyes, especially with tech like VAR. In an era of constant rule changes, teams need to be particularly watchful regarding a change in application and interpretation. This adds huge strain to every player and coaching staff in the pursuit of keeping up with the ever-evolving game of football.
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