Eberechi Eze became the first player to have a disallowed goal checked and confirmed by semi-automated offside technology in the Premier League in Crystal Palace’s clash with Manchester City on Saturday.
Eagles midfielder Eze thought he’d put his side 3-0 up at the Etihad Stadium when he fired low into the net in the 28th minute, having initially given his side the lead with a close range effort, before Chris Richards made it 2-0.
Eze then saw his fine low strike from the edge of the box flagged for offside, with the semi-automated technology quickly checking that he was indeed ahead of the last defender. Explaining the decision, the Premier League said in a statement: “The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR – with Eze in an offside position.”
The statement also came with a graphic showing Eze to be ahead of the play when he received the ball, confirming the offside decision. City then quickly turned the tables in the game and managed to haul themselves level by half-time through a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick and Omar Marmoush’s close range strike.
Mateo Kovacic and James McAtee then both scored for City in the opening 11 minutes of the second half, with both goals surviving quick offside checks before being given.
Both City manager Pep Guardiola and Palace boss Oliver Glasner had discussed the use of the technology before the game.
Guardiola said: “I think the reason why [it is being introduced] is to make it quicker right? Offside is offside, not offside if not offside – well done, [I] welcome it, it will be better.”
Crystal Palace boss Glasner also said: “Yes [I do like it], it should reduce the time to get a clear decision. I mentioned it, I’m a fan of it. There are always some improvements. Which game was it in the Championship? Was it Leeds? With two disallowed goals? They were called offside, but there was no offside.
“Then everybody, I think, is asking for the VAR. If you have the VAR, it’s criticised. If you don’t have it, it’s criticised, it’s the same! I’m always saying it’s good. It helps us to get more right decisions and this is what we want.”
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