Eberechi Eze’s disallowed free kick goal for Crystal Palace against Brentford could not be overturned by VAR because referee Samuel Barrott blew his whistle before the ball entered the net.
The 26-year-old Palace forward thought he had given Oliver Glasner’s side the lead in their Premier League opener at Brentford thanks to a superb long-range effort that went in off the post and past goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
However, referee Barrott had already blown for an interpreted infringement by Palace midfielder Will Hughes on Brentford’s Nathan Collins in the penalty area.
The game was subsequently held up as VAR checked the incident, but the Premier League clarified that it was not in a position to overturn the disallowed goal as Barrott had already stopped the game before the ball had passed the goal-line.
“The referee awards a free-kick to Brentford a foul by Hughes on Collins,” a social media post from the league’s X account to explain key officiating decisions read.
#BRECRY – 26’
The referee awards a free-kick to Brentford a foul by Hughes on Collins. The whistle was blown before the ball entered the goal, so VAR cannot intervene and the referee’s call stands.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) August 18, 2024
“The whistle was blown before the ball entered the goal, so VAR cannot intervene and the referee’s call stands.”
The International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) Laws of the Game state that officials “must always make an initial decision as if there was no VAR” with the caveat that “delaying the flag/whistle for an offence is only permissible in a very clear attacking situation when a player is about to score a goal or has a clear run into/towards the opponents’ penalty area”.
Barrott’s decision was criticised by Sky Sports pundits during half time coverage of the match, with former midfielder Jamie Redknapp saying that the official “had a nightmare” by rushing into the decision.
“It is a monumental mistake, he should have just let it breathe,” Redknapp said. “It was genius by Eze, but I’m not sure there is a foul. The referee could have blown after if he wanted to.”
Redknapp’s fellow pundit Micah Richards, a former defender, agreed: “Collins has got hold of him, it is not a foul. The referee has had a stinker. We don’t want to be too harsh, he has made a mistake.”
Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead three minutes after Eze’s goal was disallowed (Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Redknapp summarised: “If the referee doesn’t give it, we would not even be talking about it.”
Three minutes after the disallowed goal, Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead in the match.
Barrott has been refereeing Premier League matches since October 2023, taking charge of his first top flight match at the age of 30.
(Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
