Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has cleared up why Crystal Palace had a third goal against Manchester City on Saturday disallowed.
After going 2-0 ahead, the Eagles looked to have stunned the Etihad Stadium further when Jordan Ayew rolled the ball into an empty net. However, referee Darren England chalked the goal off due to Odsonne Edouard’s block on City goalkeeper Ederson.
The Brazilian shot-stopper attempted to roll the ball out to Kevin de Bruyne but the Palace striker would prevent a City counter-attack, diverting the ball into Ayew’s path. It was an incident that divided opinions, with many believing the goal should have stood due to the fact the ball had left Ederson’s hands, including Palace chairman Steve Parish.
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However, Gallagher referenced back to a similar incident involving Arsenal legend Thierry Henry that led to a change in the law. Speaking on Sky Sports News ’ Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “The goalkeeper is in this situation almost a protected species. He’s not allowed to be challenged when he is in the process of releasing the ball, i.e. kicking it or bowling it such like.
“[Ederson] is about to release the ball and already [Edouard] is encroaching in his space. The minute he does that he has committed a foul because he can’t do that. He has to allow the goalkeeper to release that ball freely.
“As Ederson goes to bowl the ball, already [Edouard’s] foot is up to block that ball which he can’t do. This goes back to Thierry Henry when he pinches the ball off [Jussi] Jaaskelainen at Bolton, when he was going to kick the ball and he did the same. So the law was changed to allow the goalkeeper that freedom of movement.”
Sky Sports News presenter Rob Wotton asked: “How far away should [Edouard] have been?”
Gallagher continued: “I can’t tell you that. What I can tell you is that [Ederson] has got to be allowed to release that ball. You say it’s left his hand, it might have left his hand but he is still in the process of bowling that ball out and in that process no forward can challenge him.”
City would eventually go on to stage a superb comeback with four second-half goals. Erling Haaland would net his first Premier League hat-trick but there was further debate as to whether or not the Norwegian should have remained on the pitch to play out the second period.
Moments after Ayew’s goal was disallowed, Haaland’s high boot caught Palace defender Joachim Andersen on the back of the head but the City striker went unpunished. “I don’t think it’s a red card. I think it’s a genuine attempt by a player to play the ball,” said Gallagher.
“Andersen throws himself in and he is allowed to do that. I don’t think Haaland sees him, his boot is up. I think if the referee gives a free-kick and a yellow card, it’s enough. It’s reckless, it’s certainly not dangerous, it’s certainly not gone to hurt the player.”
Many compared it to Sadio Mane’s red card offence on Ederson against Manchester City at the Etihad in 2017. However, Gallagher explained why the two incidents were different.
He said: “One of the differences would be the speed and intensity that Mane and Ederson were running towards each other. So [Mane] went into him.
“With that one it’s almost like Andersen comes into Haaland’s space. [Haaland] doesn’t see him, he doesn’t know he is there.
“Mane knew that Ederson was there, so I think that will be the biggest difference. Also, [Mane] chose to put his boot up for that ball whereas Haaland didn’t know the defender was coming.”
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