Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze said the referee admitted to making a mistake after disallowing what could have been a crucial goal in Palace’s 2-1 loss to Brentford on Sunday.
Eze scored directly from a wide free-kick while the match was scoreless, but referee Sam Barrott had already whistled for a foul after a clash between Palace’s Will Hughes and Brentford’s Nathan Collins.
“I was told [by the referee] that he blew too early and made the mistake,” Eze told BBC Match of the Day. “It could have changed the game but we have to deal with it.”
Because the whistle was blown before the ball entered the goal, the video assistant referee (VAR) was unable to intervene and review Hughes’ challenge.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner commented on Barrott’s admission, saying, “He showed he is a great man” by acknowledging the error.
The Premier League match center’s official account on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) explained the situation: “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.”
Shortly after the disallowed goal, Brentford took the lead and went on to win the match 2-1.
The incident has sparked debate among pundits and former players. Sky Sports analysts Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards both criticized the decision. Redknapp, a former England midfielder, described it as a “monumental mistake,” saying Barrott “had a nightmare” by blowing his whistle too early.
Richards, a former Manchester City defender, agreed, stating the referee “had a stinker.” However, he also cautioned against being too harsh on Barrott, acknowledging that mistakes can happen.
The controversy highlights ongoing discussions about the role of VAR in Premier League matches and the challenges referees face in making split-second decisions.
This incident is likely to fuel further debate about potential reforms to the VAR system and referee protocols in the Premier League.
As of Sunday evening, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which oversees officiating in English professional football, had not issued a statement regarding the incident.
