Watch: Premier League goal of the season candidate is erased

Eberechi Eze. Sports Press Photo

Watch: Premier League goal of the season candidate erased by erroneous whistle

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Aug 18, 2024 8:12 PM ET

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze thought he had scored a glorious goal from a 26th-minute free kick roughly 30 yards outside the penalty area Sunday — but brutally it did not count.

While the ball was in the air, the referee blew the whistle for a foul he supposedly spotted inside the penalty area, ultimately negating Eze's beautiful strike that ricocheted off the right goalpost and into the Brentford keeper's net.

A stunning free kick by Eberechi Eze—but the goal won't stand due to a foul called away from the ball. #BRECRY | USA Network pic.twitter.com/yaA493e0Mn
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 18, 2024

However, Crystal Palace fans' audible frustrations seemed to be justified.

The video assistant referee (VAR) instructed the on-field official to pause the restart so the play could be reviewed, and the replay showed that the foul was a mere tangling of feet between teammates.

Unfortunately, VAR cannot be used to overturn a simple foul call, according to the league's explanation of the decision posted on X.

#BRECRY – 26’

The referee awards a free-kick to Brentford for 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

Additionally, because the ball was still in the air and had not crossed the goal line before the whistle blew, the on-field call could not be overturned.

Therefore, a clear Goal of the Season candidate was wiped off the books because of an apparent blatant error by the on-field referee.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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