Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze was left frustrated after his stunning goal was controversially ruled out by referee Samuel Barrott in their Premier League opener against Brentford.
Brentford secured a 2-1 victory over Palace at their home turf, the Gtech Community Stadium, in the Premier League opener today, August 18.
Despite the win, the match was shrouded in controversy due to a questionable referee decision that overshadowed the game.
Why Eberechi Eze free-kick was disallowed?
Eberechi Eze believed he had put Palace ahead in their match against Brentford with a fantastic free-kick that beat Brentford’s goalkeeper Mark Flekken in the 27th minute.
Brentford’s player Mathias Jensen committed a rough foul by pushing Adam Wharton which prompted the referee to award a free kick.
Meanwhile, Eze took the kick quickly but while the ball was in the air referee Barrott blew the whistle for a foul by Will Hughes on Nathan Collins before the ball reached the net, ultimately disallowing the goal and causing uproar.
This ruling prevented Eze from scoring his first Premier League goal of the season, with the referee’s choice being final as VAR could not review the decision.
Consequently, the controversial call left Palace players visibly upset and manager Olivier Glasner in a state of anger on the sidelines.
Brentford eventually defeated Palace as Bryan Mbeumo put the Bees in the lead in the 29th minute before Crystal Palace swiftly equalized with an own goal by Ethan Pinnock.
However, the Eagles couldn’t maintain the scoreline, as Yoanee Wissa sealed a memorable victory for the hosts with a close-range goal in the 76th minute.
Controversial Referee Calls Spark Widespread Outrage in the Premier League
Certain referee decisions in the Premier League have tainted the outcomes of matches and sparked widespread controversy.
The 2023/24 Premier League season has been marred by controversial decisions made by referees, with a total of 31 incorrect calls recorded throughout the campaign.
From disallowed goals to penalty controversies, fans and players have been left frustrated by the officiating during matches.
One of the most notable incidents occurred during Wolves’ clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, where referee Hooper failed to award a penalty to Wolves after Andre Onana brought down Sasa Kalajdzic in the box.
Manchester United went on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory, prompting PGMOL to issue an apology for the error.
In another controversial moment, Chelsea were awarded a penalty against Burnley in March 2024 after Lorenz Assignon fouled Mykhailo Mudryk in the penalty area.
The decision led to Assignon being shown a second yellow card, while Vincent Kompany received a two-match ban for his reaction to the incident.
Sky Sport pundit Slams Referee Samuel Barrott
Fans and pundits were left frustrated by the recent incident in which Eze’s spectacular free-kick goal was unjustly disallowed.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp criticized referee Samuel Barrott for disallowing Eze’s goal, describing it as a monumental mistake.
Redknapp felt sorry for Eze and praised his genius move, calling it a brilliant goal that was unfairly disallowed.
He said: “The referee’s had a nightmare, he really has, it’s a monumental mistake. He should have just let it breathe. I’m not even sure it’s a foul first and foremost. I feel so sorry for Eze. This is genius what he does here.”
He believed the referee should have allowed the play to continue and not intervened so quickly.
He added: “The referee is just getting too involved, stay out of it, just let the game breathe. It’s a brilliant, brilliant piece of play. He could have blown after if he wanted to but to do it so quickly. I really feel so sorry for Eze. It’s a brilliant, brilliant goal.”
These incidents highlight the need for improved officiating standards in the Premier League, as fans and players alike call for greater consistency and accuracy in decision-making.
