Premier League issue explanation over disallowed Eberechi Eze goal vs Chelsea due to little-known rule

The Premier League have released a clarification on Eberechi Eze's controversially disallowed goal for Crystal Palace against Chelsea.

Eze fired Palace in front with a fiercely-hit free kick on 13 minutes.

The midfielder struck the set piece between the wall and another line of defenders, with Robert Sanchez unable to react quickly enough to keep the ball out.

But the goal was referred to VAR over a potential foul, with an incident between Palace captain Marc Guehi and Chelsea's Moises Caicedo the key focus.

It was questioned as to whether Guehi fouled Caicedo by effectively shoving him towards the wall and allowing a gap for Eze to strike the free kick through.

Ebere Eze, WOW! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/S764jCWS0E

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 17, 2025

After a lengthy check, VAR disallowed the goal - with fans immediately questioning the decision.

But the Premier League's Match Centre account has confirmed that, instead of the strike being chalked off for a foul by Guehi, he actually committed a lesser-known infraction instead.

The statement reads: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Crystal Palace.

"Referee announcement: '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 and a disallowed goal'."

What is Law 13?

Law 13, set by football's lawmakers IFAB, covers the taking of free-kicks, with a specific point covering the exact reason why Eze's goal was disallowed.

Guehi was deemed to be stood closer than the one-metre threshold to the wall when the free kick was taken.

The law reads: "Until the ball is in play, all opponents must remain at least 9.15m (10yds) from the ball, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts [or] outside the penalty area for free kicks inside the opponents' penalty area.

"Where three or more defending team players form a 'wall', all attacking team players must remain 1m (1yd) from the 'wall' until the ball is in play."