Referee Darren England disallowed a Crystal Palace goal against Man City for an infringement in the build-up
Former Tottenham Hotspur players Gary Lineker and Jermaine Jenas disagreed on whether Crystal Palace deserved to have a goal disallowed against Manchester City on Saturday.
The away side took a two goal lead against Pep Guardiola ‘s side thanks to an own goal from John Stones and a thumping header from defender Joachim Andersen. Palace also had the ball in the back of the net on the half hour, but referee Darren England disallowed the goal for an infringement in the build-up.
Jordan Ayew slotted the ball past City goalkeeper Ederson after the Brazilian tried to roll the ball out to Kevin de Bruyne – with his throw blocked by Odsonne Edouard, who diverted the ball towards Ayew to stroke home. However, the goal was quickly ruled out by the referee.
Some people compared the incident to Loris Karius’ mistake that allowed Karim Benzema to score in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final.
Although the protests from the Palace players were limited when the goal was ruled out, Lineker believes the goal should have stood, claiming that the ball had fully left Ederson’s hands when Edouard made the block.
However, former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas disagreed. BBC Match of the Day host Lineker said: “This is interesting because the goalkeeper has got it and they are protected species.”
Jenas replied: “I don’t think there is any separation between Ederson and the ball. I don’t think it’s fully released.”
“I don’t know on that,” said Lineker. “It’s left his hands hasn’t it.”
Jenas continued: “I don’t think it has, no. It’s not like the Karius one from the Champions League final with Benzema where that was fully thrown and he blocks that and scores. I think it’s right on the tips of his fingers from Ederson when it gets blocked.”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright admitted that he was unsure, adding: “I’d like to see that again because as a forward I liked to try and do that sort of stuff. It’s in the laws that it has to be totally released. I don’t know, it would have been 3-0 and Palace maybe would have finished them off.”
Despite trailing 2-0 at half-time, City responded well in the second period thanks to a goal from Bernardo Silva and 19-minute hat-trick from Erling Haaland, with the reigning Premier League champions securing a 4-2 victory.
