Eberechi Eze's spectacular free-kick against Chelsea in their Premier League opener was disallowed following a VAR review, sparking controversy and leaving Crystal Palace fans and players frustrated. The incident occurred early in the match when Eze unleashed a powerful strike that beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Initially, the goal was awarded, and Eze and his teammates began celebrating what appeared to be a stunning opening goal. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened and after a review, referee Darren England overturned his original decision after consulting the pitch-side monitor. The reason for the disallowance was that Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was deemed to be standing too close to the Chelsea wall when the free-kick was taken. Specifically, Guehi was within one meter of the wall, which is against the rules.

Further complicating the situation, Guehi was also seen impeding Chelsea's Moises Caicedo, pushing him out of position within the wall. This created a gap in the wall, which Eze exploited with his powerful shot. The referee, after reviewing the incident, determined that Guehi's actions directly influenced the play and thus the goal could not stand. The official announcement stated that "After review, away number six is less than one metre away from the wall as the shot is taken. Therefore, it's an indirect free kick".

The decision was met with strong protests from Crystal Palace, who felt that the goal should have been allowed to stand. Many argued that Guehi's position and actions did not significantly impact the outcome of the free-kick, and that Eze's strike was a legitimate goal. However, the laws of the game are clear on the distance a player can be from the wall during a free-kick, and VAR's intervention was based on these regulations. This incident has ignited fresh debate about the use of VAR and the interpretation of rules in the Premier League. While VAR is intended to eliminate clear and obvious errors, decisions like this one often lead to discussions about the subjectivity involved in applying the rules. Ultimately, while Eberechi Eze's free-kick was a brilliant strike, it was disallowed due to Marc Guehi's proximity to the Chelsea wall and his obstruction of Moises Caicedo, as determined by VAR. This decision changed the complexion of the game and added another chapter to the ongoing debate about the role and impact of VAR in modern football.